GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Yep, you read that right. Martha Stewart Weddings is turning 15 and we are gifting two tickets to the celebration to one lucky, lucky reader. The party will be held at The Plaza in New York City where some of the most well known faces and voices in this industry will be rubbing elbows and chatting about all things Martha. The event is at 6PM, Monday, October 19th.

Oh and Matthew Robbins, one of our FAVORITE Little Black Book members will be designing the flowers. Claudia Hanlin’s Wedding Library will be producing the event. The incredible soiree will also feature a retrospective of stunning wedding cakes featured in the magazine over the years from a variety of cake geniuses!

To enter, leave your name and wedding date in our comments section and we will announce the random winner tomorrow morning at 9AM! Please note…you must be able to get to NYC and attend the event in order to win.

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Post tags: Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart 15th Anniversary
Post categories: Contests

Are you squealing with glee yet? I am! I was giddy as a school girl when I bought my copy (or three) today announcing to everyone within ear shot that I was on the cover. And, it’s a huge spread to boot. For those of you who are interested, it’s all about the day in the life of a professional blogger…an honest behind the scenes look at what my days are like, how our company is run, even a glimpse into my own guilty pleasures.

Thank you so very much to Bride and Bloom Magazine for featuring us! We are honored, flattered, humbled, the works. Words can’t really say. And readers, please, please, please support this fabulous publication by buying a copy. You can find them at your local bookstore!

And while we’re on the subject of shameless bragging. Ha. We also managed to get nods in a few other of our favorite glossies. Destination Weddings and Honeymoons named us as one of their go-to blogs…

And, we got quoted…TWICE…in the latest Martha Stewart, which is a ridiculously amazing issue by the way. So, we are having a really good month. Really good. Thanks to all of you editors who thought enough of us to give us a little shout out. We are forever grateful! What a fun job I have!

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Post tags: Bride and Bloom, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, Martha Stewart
Post categories: The Blog

For more of the images, head on over to Martha Stewart! It is SO worth the trip.

More to come from around the blogs!

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Post tags: Cheree Berry, Martha Stewart
Post categories: The Blog

Oh and that first picture…well, that is the picture that made me get down on my hands and knees and BEG for more pictures of this wedding. It’s bliss.

all photographs by the lovely and talented Lauren Brooks

From Nicole, the gorgeous bride…

Our tight budget encouraged out of the box thinking when it came to catering. A few years ago an acquaintance had attended a wedding that served pizza. We love gourmet pizza so I began researching some options. Living two hours from our venue made this difficult, but I ended up finding a Pizzicato owner who was willing to work with me. It was a big risk – he had never catered an event of our size (100ppl), but the price was right. Being detail oriented helped me in getting every little thing into a contract. And the food turned out perfectly – it was all delicious and hot. Our guests thought it was a great idea (we are a pretty casual bunch).

A wedding cake was never something I dreamed of so I ignored everyone who told me it would be too much to do it ourselves and did it. I made a 10-inch lemon poppyseed with raspberry cake for us to cut and brownies, lemon bars, and cupcakes for our guests. Our cake topper consisted of a $3 thrifted bride and groom and crepe paper flowers I made using a Martha Stewart kit (I had used these as my bouquet at the rehearsal). I had seen the mini bride and groom picks in a featured wedding on Style Me Pretty and couldn’t resist – we hand painted the hair and flowers on all 100. We placed our desserts on trays we made using thrifted plates, glasses, and candlesticks.

For our bar, I rented two cocktail tables and we had family friends pour wine. We had barrels of ice and bottled local microbrews (and corona – a nod to our honeymoon) for guests to serve themselves.

The whole reception was fantastic – I don’t think I left the dance floor. I have had many guests tell me it was the most fun they had had in years. All the work and effort is worth it because of that and the fact that we ended up married.

A few more fun details are on their way!

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Post tags: Cake Toppers, DIY Wedding Cake, Martha Stewart, Pizza, Pizzicato
Post categories: Budget Beautiful, Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

This table was inspired by an Alan Campbell wallpaper that the Wedding Library uses and was actually filmed for a Martha Stewart show called The Art of Cakes, 2, that will debut on the Style Network on December 16. How cool is that?

Check out Amy’s website if you haven’t already. And, if you are in need of some serious wedding inspiration, some great planning tips and a handful of gorgeous wedding finds, check out the Wedding Library’s new blog!

Stay tuned to find out about the designers behind the great silhouette boxes!

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Post tags: Alan Campbell, Amy Atlas, Dessert Table, Martha Stewart, New York, Style Network, Wedding Library
Post categories: Wedding Cakes

So, I have chosen the always yummy, Gourmet Chocolate Mints as my inspiration for this Sweet Winter Wedding board…

Clockwise from top left: Mints by Beau Coup, Dress by Saks, Nest by Mimosa Style, Chocolate Cakes by Martha Stewart, Flowers by Domino Magazine

I have a deep love affair with Winter Inspired Weddings…there is just something so dreamy, so romantic about the white snow, the beautiful gowns paired with cozy cashmere wraps, the hot cocoa served to guests, the incredibly warm, elegant styles.

For this particular wedding, I thought that it would be gorgeous to find inspiration in the crisp white mints, pairing them with a deep velvety chocolate, a feminine gray/blue and just a hint of pale rose in the florals. Perfect for a wedding in a rustic barn, with candles tucked in hurricane vases of all sizes in every corner. I totally see the bride in a gorgeous lace inspired gown accented with a pretty, soft capulet and a lush flower tucked into a low bun. Gorgeous. Wish this was my wedding I was dreaming about!

* * *

So, You might be wondering why I chose such a simple, rather traditional wedding favor as a starting off point. Well, it’s because I have officially fallen in love with the packaging options at Beau Coup and these cute mints would look so great displayed in huge candy bins among other white inspired candies, with these great take away bags nearby…

Just drape the table with something really organic, like deconstructed burlap sacks (or burlap fabric) to pair with the pristine white candies. You will have that perfect combination of elegance and rustic chic. Thus is the theme for my Beau-Coup, Winter Inspired Wedding!

Now, it’s your turn…pick a favor from the Beau Coup website and dream up your own wedding. All you have to do is leave a comment (no pics necessary) with your ideas and we’ll pass along two gift certificates, one for $50 and one for $75, from Beau-Coup to two lucky readers. Then, if we win the grand prize, we’ll offer our $250 prize to a third winner!

The deadline for your comment is this coming Thursday, the 20th…so don’t delay!

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Post tags: Beau-Coup, Contest, Domino Magazine, Gourmet Chocolate Mints, Inspiration Board, Martha Stewart, Mimosa Style
Post categories: Contests, Inspiration Boards

Little Black Dress is the Silk tricotine Rebecca short dress by JCrew /Ice cream cones found on Martha Stewart /Centerpiece from Farmer Julie /Stationary and macaroons from Martha Stewart / Bouquet from Punam Bean via Style Me Pretty

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Post tags: Bridesmaids Dresses, Color Palette Purple Hot Pink, Farmer Julie, Inspiration Board Contest, JCrew, Little Black Dress, Martha Stewart, Punam Bean
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests, Inspiration Boards, Wedding Resources

Bouquet – Martha Stewart / Dress – Milly Scallop Dot Embroidered organza dress from Nordstrom / Quail eggs with caviar – Martha Stewart / Save the Date – Ceci New York / Cloisonne ribbon from Les Bons Ribbon

More to come!

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Post tags: Bridesmaid Dresses, Ceci New York, Contest, Les Bons Ribbon, Little Black Dress, Martha Stewart, Nordstrom
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests, Inspiration Boards, Wedding Resources

Materials

tissue paper cut in 1”x3” rectangles
floral wire and tape
ink or watercolors (optional)

Instructions

1. The first step optional step is to dye your tissue paper to the color of your choice. Just dip several rectangles of white tissue paper in a thin watercolor bath, and dry on paper towels. For deeper colors, you use ink instead of watercolor. Only separate the layers when dry. You can also use colored tissue paper, but this lets you have subtle shade variations, and exactly the palette you want.

2. Twist both sides of the tissue rectangle around a small ball to form a petal (I’ve used a ball of tissue paper scraps wrapped in floral tape). The tissue should be big enough to cover the ball halfway through. You can use smaller balls with larger rectangles, and vice-versa, to vary the flower sizes.

3. Make five of these, and glue them together with a dab of acrylic medium to form a flower (Elmer’s glue would probably work fine too).

4. Attach a floral wire with floral tape to your flower, then cut the twisted ends near the end of the petal.

Repeat to form a bouquet or boutonnière (~15-20 flowers for a smallish bouquet, 1-3 for a boutonnière) With experience, a single flower takes about 10 minutes to make, from start to finish.

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Post tags: Bouquets, DIY Instructions, Martha Stewart, Paper Flowers
Post categories: Contests, DIY Projects, Wedding Resources

* * *

Laura compared the feel of her wedding to “a beautiful antique with a story behind it.” With a modern twist on vintage glamour, this wedding was one of my favorite wedding planning experiences. Laura wanted her wedding to reflect her Southern roots, strong family bonds and modern vintage style. Here is the inspiration board we put together for her big day:

Laura fell in love with the cake (pictured at center), monochromatic centerpiece collections (to the right of the cake), and the whimsy of these fabulous bird place cards. All from Martha Stewart Weddings. So, we added (clockwise from top left) her stunning Lazaro gown, the candy bar from Martha to add youth to her big day, softly-hued lanterns from Cultural Intrigue, frilly yellow tulips, a white vintage
‘62 Dodge Dart from Bliss Event Group , white garden lanterns, a collection of antique milkglass, fresh lemonade to cool guests in the warm summer sun, and a simple aisle of white blossoms.

Here is the final result…

Photography by Almasy Photography

A few details (clockwise from top-left) ..

*Teardrop vases full of fluffy peonies, ranunculus and fragrant sweet peas hung above the guest tables.

*Bridesmaids wore different shades of white and ivory.

*Mini cupcakes added to the cake-and-candy-filled Sweet Endings table.

*We used custom silk monogrammed runners on all the tables and made a “cuff” around the bar with the same design. These monogrammed linens made the guests feel like they were in the couple’s home. Laura and Matt use them in their home today-such a lovely memory for them!

*To create the feel of being outdoors, we had our lighting designer create a pattern of delicate leaves on the tent ceiling that was draped in sheer white fabric.

*Cones of soft petals to shower the couple as they entered the reception space-it was a wonderful surprise for them!

*The bride and groom share a moment post-ceremony on the lawn of their grandparent’s estate where the wedding took place.

*Laura’s Sigerson Morrison flats that she says she still wears today.

*Spheres of fluffy white, pink, and peach carnations hung throughout the space.

*Guest tables were set in true southern tradition-family style.

*Hand-tied bundles of local herbs were placed on each place setting.

*The Sweet Endings table was filled to the brim with Laura and Matt’s favorites in soft hues.

*This is my favorite linen- the peach paillette from Resource One . it’s just delicious!

*it was May in the South, so the open air dinner seating was wonderful.

*Satin ribbon tied to peach lanterns.

*Laura and Matt’s exit amidst a shower of sparklers.

*the 12 piece big band played long after the couple left that evening for their honeymoon.

*the cake was cut with Laura’s great grandmother’s cake knife.

*we placed mini birds and butterflies all over the space with antique garden furniture to make it feel like a whimsical Southern garden.

*custom coasters from My Wedding Labels

*bird place cards on champagne glasses greeted guests; classic Mason jars for guests to fill with sweet treats to take home.

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Post tags: Almasy Photography, Bliss Event Group, Cultural Intrigue, Lazaro, Martha Stewart, My Wedding Labels, Resource One, Sigerson Morrison
Post categories: Real Weddings

Since we didn’t get to post the remaining entries in our Color Palette Contest on Friday, we are going to finish up today then start the voting tomorrow. Let’s get right to it!

This next entry is all about white, inspired by the amazing tile ceiling on the right from Maribeth of Red Ribbon Studio’s gorgeous office…

Top Left Photo of Z Mansion in Tucson, Arizona, White Dress by BCBG on Bluefly, Invitation by Bella Figura, Ring Pillows on Martha Stewart, Cake by Martha Stewart, Florals by Martha Stewart

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Post tags: BCBG, Bella Figura, Martha Stewart, Red Ribbon Studio, Ring Pillows
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests

So, in lieu of posts today, I am going to leave you with lots of Patriotic wishes and one very Patriotic Color Palette!

Starting Top Left, Counterclockwise: Red Shoes Photo: Flickr Photo; Red bottles: Unknown; Cupcakes Image: Getty Images; Mustang photo: Tamara Lackey Photography; Fireworks image: Getty Images; Table image: Getty Images; CrackerJacks Image: Tamara Lackey Photography; Seating programs: Martha Stewart Weddings; Invitations: Bella Figura; Bridesmaid Dress: Nordstrom, David Meister Dot Print

This palette was sent to me by Wendy, the designer behind the blog A Southern Accent.  Thanks so much, Wendy. And to everyone who is celebrating the 4th today, eat an extra hot dog for me!

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Post tags: A Southern Accent, Bella Figura, Martha Stewart, Nordstrom, Tamara Lackey Photography
Post categories: Color Palettes

centerpiece photo from {frolic},  tie photo from Martha Stewart Weddings, pies from Country Living via Brides, lantern from Jose Villa, bouquet from The Knot,  boutonniere from Martha Stewart,  cornhusk wreath from Martha Stewart,  cherries from Lisa Vorce and OH, HOW CHARMING!

The designer sees this wedding as a “farm elegant celebration, with an emphasis on delicious food and great details like the fruit pies (instead of cake), a hand-lettered sign pointing to the church, a late-night s’mores buffet, and an antique truck for the couple to drive away in at the end of the night.”

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Post tags: Country Living, Jose Villa, Martha Stewart, Oh How Charming
Post categories: Color Palettes, Contests

Row1 {MS Weddings; The Cake Girls; Brides} / Row2 {Ann Wood; Lisa Lefkowitz; MS Weddings} / Row3 {Brides; CECI New York; The Knot}

The board was designed by Darci from With This Ring blog for a friend of a friend…I am sorry, but how stinking cute is this!? I am usually not a huge fan of this shade of blue and yet when you see the total saturation of blues, with the gorgeous hydrangeas and the navy and stark white accents…LOVE IT. Check out Darci’s blog for more great wedding inspirations!

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Post tags: Ann Wood, Lisa Lefkowitz, Martha Stewart, The Cake Girls, With This Ring
Post categories: Inspiration Boards

Clockwise from top left – Boutonnière on Brides.com, Maple Sugar Favors on
Martha Stewart Weddings, Jewelry on Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridesmaid Dress on Brides.com, Cake on theknot.com, Tablescape on weddingstyle.com, Moderno Suite by Robin
Beth Designs

The Moderno Suite Is a modern design, but has a very organic feel. It is letterpress printed on 100% cotton cardstock, backed with a dark chocolate textured cardstock, uses a modern hand silk-screened Japanese decorative paper and is wrapped with micro suede tape.

I love when designers share their own tips, based on their own experience, with brides. I’ve asked Robin to share with us some ideas to consider when choosing or designing your wedding invitation…

As many people have said before, the invitation can really set the tone for the event. When it comes time to choose invitations, most brides have already created their inspiration boards, chosen their colors and styles, picked their location, flowers, fashion and almost everything else.

Just as I use the incredible decorative papers that I find as my source of inspiration to create the invitation designs, so should you use the overall design of your wedding to help you choose your invitations. Whether it is a decorative paper, unique typefaces (and I mean more than one), ink colors, ribbons or other embellishments, all of it can help to make sure your invitations perfectly represent who you and your fiancé are and what your wedding day means to you.

When a guest opens your invitation, it should invoke a feeling of what you are about as a couple and what the event will be like. Make sure to include elements of your invitations on your inspiration boards and you will know very easily if they fit in with your style. Most of all, don¹t be afraid to have fun and let your own personal style shine through with your invitations!

Thank you so much, Robin, for sharing this with us!!

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Post tags: Martha Stewart, Robin Beth Designs
Post categories: Wedding Invitations & Stationery