Black, White & Yellow

I love black, white & yellow together. There's just something so cool and contemporary about it that I like. The sharp contrast between the black and yellow is striking, and the added white makes it look less like a bumble bee and more like a wedding. In my opinion, I think a black and white wedding with pops of bright yellow could be such an unexpected color palette. The black and white is super classic, and the yellow ads a touch of fun. Oh, and a damask pattern too? Such a great combo! What do you think?

Center: hearts

First: frame, escort card, silhouette, sash

Second row: cake, shoes

Third row: shoes, bouquet

Fourth row: flowers, damask, bridesmaid, couple

Parisian Wedding oo la la!

What could possibly be better than having your wedding in Paris, the city of love? Pretty much nothing. Unfortunately, that leaves most of us feeling depressed because, well, a wedding in Paris just isn't possible. The great thing is that you CAN have a Parisian inspired wedding without being in Paris! I love everything about French culture. It's so glamorous, whimsical and romantic. Why not create that feeling at your wedding? Use French postcards for invitations/decorations, set the mood with romantic colors, place simple French words at table settings, serve French foods. The possibilities are endless, oui? (The only French word I know!)

Photos courtesy of Style me Pretty

Center: Je'taime

First row: postcards, cake, shoes, bride

Second row: bouquet, envelope

Third row: table number, table

Fourth row: shoes, cream puffs, lips

Offbeat Boutonnieres

Since I'm on an "unconventional" kick today...I thought I'd share some quirky boutonniere pictures that I found from Austin Wedding Blog. Whether you hate them or love them, you have to admit that these are definitely off the beaten path and far more memorable than a typical flower boutonniere. So ladies, would you let your man rock one of these with his favorite character on it? Or would you say NO!?

Unconventional Wedding Gowns

If you're the type of bride who thinks, "A conventional wedding is a boring wedding" then boy do I have the perfect post for you! I don't think there's anything wrong with straying from the usual long, white wedding gown that 99% of all brides opt for. I mean, your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as a person. If you're quirky and fun and totally offbeat, then I'm a strong believer that your dress should match that. Even though it's not MY personal style, I think that these unconventional wedding dresses are fun and beautiful. I give these women major props for daring to be different!

Photo credit

Photo credit

Modern & Contemporary

Sleek. Modern. Contemporary. Three words that make for a stunning, breath-taking, beautiful wedding. This minimalist look is all about sharp lines, cool architectural patterns, and bold black and white with pops of color. I love it that it makes you feel like you are in an expensive penthouse in New York city, sipping champagne. Honestly, it's just so cool. I can hardly stand it! 

Photos courtesy of Style me Pretty

Pink & Navy

I love this pink and navy combo. It's preppy and tailored and extremely energetic feeling. Plus, I think it represents a man and a woman so perfectly. I love it that you can take two bold colors, mix them together, and neither of them are competing with one another. It's pure wonderfullness. (I think I just made up a word). And, I love those pink and navy Nikes in the left upper corner. Yes, a groom really did wear those, which is way cool. But it would have been even better had they been worn by the bride :)

Center: couple
First row: Nike shoes, bouquet, table setting, place cards
Second row: cake, wedding party
Third row: table, tux
Fourth row: bridesmaid, flowers on chair, centerpiece, banners

Literature Wedding

With school having just started (and me thanking my lucky stars that I've graduated), I thought a literature-themed wedding would be so appropriate. I love the idea of a literary wedding because it's so effortlessly classic and vintage. There's even something extremely romantic about books. The great thing is that you could even get your centerpieces and decor from second-hand shops! Buy some vintage books and you've got instant decoration. Couldn't get any easier than that. Also, notice that the bouquet in the right corner is made of paper...not just any paper, but book pages! I love that. You could really get creative with this theme. Some couples name their tables after American classics, some send out personalized pencils as favors, and some even cut their books up to make literary works of art. Give it a shot!

Center: book

First row: Table 2, books and camera, paper vase, Table 3

Second row: upright books

Third row: couple, bouquet

Fourth row: rings, stack of books, library cards

Mustard-Yellow Wedding

I can't possibly be the only one who thinks this golden-yellow color is completely under-rated. I mean, it's just so beautiful and rich and completely perfect for a fall wedding. This would be especially perfect for a bride who loves yellow, but isn't getting married in the spring or summer and needs something a little less sunny. The golden hue is so appropriate for a wedding in late Sept, Oct, or Nov. because it mimics that color-changing leaves so perfectly. I, for one, think it's divine. For an even more fall-ish color palette, pair it with a deep, rich brown; for a lighter, airy feel, pair it with white. The great thing about it is that it can stand on it's own and still make a huge impact on the ambiance of your wedding. And, it reminds me of mustard, my favorite condiment. Woo hoo!

Photos courtesy of Style me Pretty

Center: Bride

First row: pinwheel, boutonierre, dress, rooster can

Second row: couple, pomanders

Third row: stationary, bridesmaids

Fourth row: rings, couple, centerpiece, cake topper

Purple, Purple and more Purple

Since purple is my favorite color, it comes as a surprise to me that I have yet to make a purple inspiration board! (Seriously, what is wrong with me?!) So, here it is. A beautiful, bright, cheery, drool-worthy purple-inspired wedding. Because there are so many different shades of purple out there, it was hard for me to focus on just a couple shades. But, I feel like most brides opt for a deep, dark, plum-ish purple for their wedding (myself, included). So, here I am to show you that bright purple can be pretty too! And elegant. And completely appropriate for a classy wedding. I'm seriously re-considering the shade of purple at my own wedding now. Dang me! I am my own worst enemy :)

How about you? Is purple of any shade making an appearance at your wedding?

Photo Credits:
Center: bouquet
First row: flowers, dessert, bride
Second row: dress, straws
Third row: table setting
Fourth row: shoes, napkin, cupcakes, shoe

DIY Rosette Cake

I love this DIY idea from The Wedding Chicks. It makes decorating your own wedding cake looks super easy. For brides on a budget who are considering making their own cake (or having a friend or family member do it), this is the perfect project. It's super simple, and when you're done, it looks so chic and beautiful! Nobody would know that you didn't pay top dollar for it.

The beautiful rosettes that are used for decoration can be put on any cake. Make a short round cake, a square cake, a tiered cake, or tiny French cakes, like the ones pictured. Then make some of these beautiful rosettes, adorn it with a bold ribbon, and you've got a professional-looking cake that's easy to make and easy on the wallet.



1. Scissors
2. Card stock (a variety of shades is nice)
3. A Pencil
4. Ribbon (for added décor)

1. Lightly trace a spiral pattern on a 5″x5″ piece of card stock
2. Cut out the spiral along its lines

3. Simply roll the spiral from the outside until it forms a rosette and pull away the edges to make the rosette “bloom”
4. Cut out leaves for the rosette using green card stock
5. Place the rosette on the top of your cake, or around the edges.
6. Cut a piece of ribbon to go around the base, and glue it in place using non-toxic adhesive.

Enjoy!!

Again a special thanks to our North Carolina Photographers, Hilton Pittman Photography for this crafty DIY!

Pale Yellow and Green

Yellow and green are two colors that could be an eye-sore together. They are both so intense and bold that I wouldn't normally think about pairing them unless you want a citrus-overload! But, if you love these two colors and can't imagine not having them for your wedding, here's a great way to do it. Pale shades of the two are absolutely gorgeous together! They complement each other instead of trying to compete with one another, and the effect is so nice. It's soft and sweet, but fun and energetic at the same time. I, for one think this is such a fresh look that hasn't been overdone, which makes me love it even more!

Center: bouquet
First row: table decoration, banner, pennant, hair flower
Second row: cake, girls
Third row: bridesmaids
Fourth row: flowers, centerpieces, table, glasses

Vineyard-inspired Wedding

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: you don't have to have your wedding at a vineyard to have a wine-inspired wedding. No really, you don't! (Notice that I didn't include one picture that shows an actual vineyard!) All you've got to have are details and decorations that scream "You're at a fancy vineyard in Napa Valley!" and you'll start to think you really are.

A wine-themed wedding can be so elegant. It could be especially fun if you're from somewhere that doesn't have very many vineyards. It will be like a mini getaway for you and your guests. The trick is to make your friends and family feel like they're at a vineyard. Think: corks, grapes, lots of wine, cheese, bread, wine barrels/crates and of course, a color palette to match. When I think of wine, I imagine dark purples, plums, reds, pinks. Stick to some of these things and you'll be able to pull off a fun, chic, sophisticated vineyard wedding, without the vineyard!

Photo Credits:

Center: table
First row: suit, wine, bride
Second row: wine box
Third row: cheese, purple centerpiece
Fourth row: couple with grapes, vine centerpiece, corks, bouquet

Mini-sized appetizers

Appetizers can be great for a wedding, especially if you're planning on giving your guests a cocktail hour between the ceremony and the reception. Plus, everybody loves food that comes in tiny, bite-sized portions. I mean, c'mon, they're just plain fun to eat! But what's even better than small portions, are food that are actually mini-sized. Typically, you take a food that is normal-sized, and shrink it down so that people can eat it in one bite. Mini foods are cute. And they're smart. They'll keep your guests occupied while you're gone. Just don't be surprised if you walk in and find them all pretending to be giants.

Photos courtesy of Style me Pretty, Bridal Bar, Examiner, and The Bride Suite.

From left to right: 1.Mini potato skins  2.Mini ice cream cones  3.Mini corn dogs  4.Mini pies  5.Mini hamburgers  6. Mini pancakes  7.Mini doughnuts  8.Mini pop-tarts  9.Mini grilled cheese/tomato soup  10.Mini champagne bottles  11.Mini cheesecakes  12.Mini caramel apples  13.Mini milkshakes.

Red Hot!

Red. It's the color of love. The color of passion. The color of romance. So, why not incorporate it into your wedding? It certainly represents the burning love you and your fiance have for one another. If, however, you're kind of scared of the intensity of red, try pairing it with white. The color white is so simple and pure, that it kind of offsets the boldness of the red, making for a very soft, romantic color palette. See, you CAN do red and still be soft and pretty.

Photos courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Photo credits

Center: cake
First row: Toms, place cards, couple, vase
Second row: straws
Third row: bouquet, centerpiece
Fourth row: napkin, shoes, decoration, dessert

DIY: Rainbow Cake

This rainbow cake, found on One Charming Party, is awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I think I am drooling. They were genius for thinking this sucker up! Be sure to check out the original post in the link above.  Eight bold, differently colored layers are stacked on top of one another to form an awesome mega-cake of epic proportions. I love that it's hidden underneath a layer of plain white frosting so that when you cut into this sucker, all the glory underneath is revealed. I think you should try and make one yourself...I'm sure going to!

 

1. Divide your cake batter into 8 different bowls. Color each bowl of batter a different color. Our colors are: red, pink, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, and purple. Bake each layer in an 8″ or 9″ round pan. You will take turns using the pan over and over with different colors. Unless you have 8 round pans. Make sure to grease and flour your pan or put a round of parchment in the bottom to prevent sticking. Let each cake cool slightly before removing. Turn out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.
2. Once the cakes have cooled completely, freeze each layer individually wrapped in plastic. This will make it easier to assemble and frost the cake.
3. Once the cakes are frozen you can start layering your cake in a rainbow pattern, putting frosting in between each layer.
4. Frost the outside of the cake as well.





Photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat. Cake inspired by Kaitlin Flannery’s rainbow cake. This cake created by Dusti Ondryas.

S'more, please.

I must admit that s'mores are one of my guiltiest pleasures. The perfect combination of roasted marshmallow, crunchy graham cracker and smooth, melty chocolate is hard to beat. Plus my future hubby and I like to camp, and s'mores is the ultimate campfire food. I had thought about having s'mores as a late night snack at the wedding. But then I thought, "How would we roast the mallows?" S'mores are no good without teddy-bear brown marshmallows. Then, I came across a post from Wedding Window that has the PERFECT s'mores bar. Not only is it fun and delicious, but they actually made it look really nice and chic too.

I'm highly considering this option, as long as the venue is OK with open flame. I mean, it's safe, right?

What do you think? Would you do something laid back like this on your big day?

It's a Wrap! (I'm so clever)

Remember the post I had a few days ago, featuring an awesome dress from Etsy? (Here!).
They're handmade by Coralie Beatrix and just stunning.

Well, I've really been looking into it further. At first I just thought it was a pretty dress. But, the more I'm looking at it, the more I'm loving it. Let me tell you why.

1. It's convertible. It can be worn a ton of different ways. And, I mean a TON.

Here's a few examples of the tops. Keep in mind, these are all the SAME dress, just tied differently.

2. It would be perfect for the mismatched bridesmaid look. Each girl could tie their dress differently, but they would all be cohesive because, essentially, they're the same dress!

3. They come in long and short and both are just awesome.

4. They come in a one size fits most deal (size 2-12). If you are small, you just wrap your dress more times. So, it wouldn't be a huge hassle fitting everybody.

5. If it's too long, or you don't like the length, you just cut off the bottom where you want it. The fabric doesn't need a hem.

6. They claim to be super flattering on every body shape, which would be great. Each girl could just find a way to wear it that flatters them, and wear it that way.

7. They're not very expensive! $79 for a short dress, $99 for a long one.

So, what to do, what to do.....I think I might order one for myself. Then I can play around with it and see if I like it. Plus, all the other girls could try it on too! Which one do you like best?? Long? Short? Which color?

A Traveler's Dream Wedding

Travel-inspired weddings are just so....exciting. You can have more fun with maps, globes, suitcases, and postcards than you ever would have thought possible. And, you can pick up most of this stuff at vintage stores. Saving you money and looking expensively antique is what it's all about.  It will make your guests feel like they're about to jet-set off to some exotic country, and who wouldn't like that? Vacation is the best part of the year, so why not make it part of your biggest day! Makes me want to take off right now.

Photo Credits

Center: map couple
First row: suitcase, passport, centerpiece, globe
Second row: camera
Third row: luggage tag, couple
Fourth row: map, binoculars, ticket, airplane cookies

Etsy Finds Part II

I think it's time to feature another round of gorgeous Etsy items! I absolutely adore Etsy and all of the creative professionals that spend their time and energy creating one-of-a-kind items for us to buy. It's the perfect place to go for wedding shopping. You'll find pieces that are unique, special, and oh-so-creative. Trust me, your head will be swimming with all of the wonderful things you'll find. I can literally spend my entire day (and paycheck) on there! Go check out Etsy today and see what you can find.

In the meantime, check out some of my favorite items at the moment.

1.Here's a to-die-for headwreath by Blue Orchid Floral. I love this for the whimsical bride who wants to feel like a woodland fairy. With this beautiful headpiece, you'll look like something straight out of a fairytale.

Click here for more info!

2. I adore the simplicity of this monogrammed cake topper by Better Off Wed. The wood is so pretty and would go well with an outdoorsy, vintage, or rustic-chic style wedding. Plus, it's easily customizable!

 

3

Click here for more info!

3. I love banners. They're funky and fun and have a vintage-flair to them. There are tons of different ones out there, but why not shop for them in one spot? Funky Shique has a huge variety of hand-made, customizable banners that are all so effortlessly cool.

Click here for more info!

4. I swear, I am in love with this dress. Coralie Beatrix is a genius. The dress is just so soft and feminine and looks like it would be flattering on any body type. In fact, this dress is completely convertible so it can be worn in an endless amount of ways to fit each of the girls in your bridal party. How awesome is that?

Click here for more info!

5. This headpiece is kind of a gasp-er. By that, I mean that I literally gasped out-loud when I saw it. Holy Toledo, it has more bling than a rapper's grill. I just can't stop looking at it. Thank you Myra Kim for such a beautiful creation.

 

6.

Click here for more info!

6. This bouquet by Really Bad Kitty is so stunning. It's simple and elegant and unique at the same time. It's made of satin and vintage/antique buttons; a beautiful combo! It's different than just a plain satin bouquet, or an entirely-button bouquet. I think it's a great mix. And, you could keep it forever, a definite bonus! I'm pretty sure I could look at it for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

P.S. Check out my post about button decor, featuring another of Really Bad Kitty's creations!
See it here!

Click here for more info!

There's my top 6 Etsy picks for now. See anything that you love? Have you found your own Etsy treasures? I'd love to see them!