Welcome Totes

This afternoon I have the perfect makings of a wedding tote to welcome all of your friends and family to your destination beach affair!

It all starts with the bag. Personalized wedding totes are a huge trend right now and being such a charming reminder of the weekend like the one below, I can see why!

Then you and your beau get to fill it with all of the lovely details you want!

{1} Write your guests a personal message in a bottle to say ‘thank you’ for their love and support!
{2} These custom stickers are too cute not to put in your bag.
{3} Sipping their hot beverage of choice from these mugs, your guests will be carried away to the beach even on the coldest of days.
{4} Flip flops are essential for long walks on the beach!
{5} A gorgeous mercury candle like this will bring warm romance to those long winter nights.
{6} Salt water taffy is definitely a staple of a perfect beach vacation.
{7} Wintertide spa scrub to keep skin soft and smooth during the harsh winter months.
{8} A vintage beach-themed flask will make the guys very happy!
{9} If you want to add a little something special in your bridal party’s bags, monogrammed cashmere scarves could be just what you’re looking for.

Maids in White

I am a huge advocate of choosing trendy bridesmaids attire because you know that with dresses like the ones below from BHDLN, your closest lady friends will be so excited to wear their outfit on your big day, and again, and again, and again.  Any combination of these dresses and accessories will give you and each of your lovely ladies the perfect frost-kissed look for your winter soiree. Go explore the fashion-forward site and make your maids even happier to be standing by your side. Enjoy this pretty day y’all!

{1} Quatrefoil Sheath
{2} Saturnalia Dress
{3} Dainty Diversion Mini
{4} Fall-to-Winter Boots
{5} Platinum Promise Gloves
{6} Sun-Bleached Belt
{7} Troika Earrings

Design Trends: Gold Sequins

Have y’all been over to Ban.do lately to check out their 2011 line of sparkly and festive accessories?! If not, I know what site you’ll be stalking today…The modern fashion line offers accessories for many bridal tastes, but my addiction right now is the holiday line sparkling with so many gold sequins… Any of the collection of gorgeous sequin-inspired pieces are sure to make the perfect bridal statement to complement your wardrobe during engagement photos, a rehearsal dinner, or even on the big day! Check out some of my favorites below to become the trend-setting brides I know y’all are, and then head on over to the Ban.do website to peruse the rest of the whimsical, fun bridal collection!

Have a happy day y’all!

 

Inspiration Board #33: Sequins Shimmer

Good morning friends! This week, rather this year, is all about “making a statement” in 2012. With all those new year’s resolutions being thrown into our daily lifestyles this week, I’ve got one for y’all to add to the list. I dare you to make a resolution that you can look back on for a lifetime and vow to have a wedding celebration that will top all others this coming season! I am going to be here each week this year to give you the tools, inspiration, and motivation to make the statement of your dreams come to life! Get excited friends, we’re in for one whirlwind of a year! This week, we are starting with a sequins and shimmer inspired board of pretties that is sure to bring magic to any event and dazzle any audience of guests.

Hope y’all have a blissful start to 2012!!

Row 1: toasting couple, XO sign, pink sequin heels, confetti champagne favors, skewered donuts

Row 2: fringe backdrop, white & gold cake, sequin headpiece, stars runner

Cheers for the New Year!

Happy New Year’s Eve friends!!

I have had such an exciting end to my new year! My handsome sailor surprised me with a phone call earlier this week telling me he was coming into port for a few days…I wasn’t supposed to hear from him for another two or three weeks so imagine my excitement!! But that was the reason I have been out of touch with all of y’all the last few days. So today I will be sure to catch up with all the wedding excitement and trends to share with y’all, so get ready for a whomper of a love-filled day!

If you’re still looking to highlight a fun drink for tonight’s festivities that is sure to make an impression, I encourage y’all to pull out the blender and host your parties with a spiked slushie in your hand! These drinks are super easy to prepare, and a trendy, funky way to bring in 2012 with style. For full ingredients and recipes, follow the links below…

Strawberry Champagne Slushy

Riesling Strawberry Slushy

Peach Bellini

 

 

Design Trends: Tartan!

Happy Wednesday friends!

I have quite the line up for y’all today highlighting some of the best of festive contemporary spins on favorite holiday traditions, including some real weddings features later this afternoon!  First up on today’s  list is some inspiration for y’all with the trendy, oh-so-beautiful fabric pattern known as ‘tartan’. I don’t about all of you but for me, tartan just screams traditional Christmas! The board below has me craving a big crackling fireplace and a warm tartan blanket to wrap up in. If you’re planning a holiday soiree, be sure to check it out for some lovely inspiration!

{1} These scottish terrier pup ornaments would be such an adorable seating card/take home favor for guests!
{2} Can you say super cute engagement photos?? This scarf would be perfect for a winter photo sesh!
{3} If you are a modern bride, these suits might be just what you’re looking for to dress up those dapper groomsmen of yours.
{4} These flats would be just what you need to dance away the night on the dance floor.
{5} Tartan bow ties would be cute as a button on those little ring bearers…Or even on the big boys!
{6} If you want to shake things up a little, this little number would definitely not be the cookie cutter bridesmaid dress and would look SO fantastic in your photo album!
{7} A festive table setting, inspired by the holidays.
{8} A tartan flannel shirt can be a great accessory for bridal portraits!
{9} If the bow ties aren’t your style, perhaps these neck ties will do the trick!
{10} Some holiday wedding decor inspiration to gawk over…
{11} This tartan beret would be another picture-perfect accessory for those engagement or bridal portraits!

Sips of the Season

When I think of the winter season, daydreaming of sips of sweet hot cocoa gives me the best kind of Christmas fuzzies. Ever heard of a dessert bar?? Well, I am thinking that a hot chocolate bar is a lovely way to charm your guests into mingling and tingling over the details of your wedding day! And the best thing about this kind of signature drink, is your guests can either have their beverage as expected or as a Bailey’s and cocoa cocktail!  Keep your loved ones warm and cozy with some of the favorite yummies below that are necessary to create that perfect mug of hot cocoa! Yummm…

{1} Ghiradelli Premium Hot Cocoa
{2} Reddi Whip Whipped Cream
{3} Kraft Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows
{4} The Spice Hunter Cinnamon Sticks
{5} Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
{6} Splanger Mini Candy Canes
{7} Santander Chocolate Shavings
{8} Bailey’s Irish Cream
{9} Wilton Sprinkles
{10} Kikkerland Paper Straws
{11} CK Products Sugar Crystals

Design Trends: Warm & Cozy

I have a confession to make…Every year, I absolutely DREAD Winter. Without fail. I despise being cold. I am known to always be under a blanket everywhere I go seeking any possible extra warmth! Nonetheless, Mr. Winter always manages to creep on in in his stealthy way, and brings that infamous chilly, crisp weather along with him. I’m thinking it would not be very fashion-forward for a December bride on her big day to walk down the aisle bundled in a blanket, so today I have put together some of my favorite fall and winter cover-up accessories to keep y’all warm and cozy (and trendy!) throughout the holiday wedding season!

{1} For a more contemporary look that accentuates your gown, consider a fitted, textured cardigan, like this one!

{2} A flirty & cozy knit scarf like this would be the perfect plus-one for any casual celebration.

{3} This off-white wrap exudes elegance, class, and most important – warmth!

{4} A classic winter wedding would be the perfect setting to show off these snow white cashmere fingerless gloves.

{5} Even with cold weather, your legs will be more than ready to come out and play if they’re covered by something as sweet and sassy as these over-the-knee socks.

{6} This pair of earmuffs is so fun and could make for some really adorable photos with your beau and maids.

Something Bloom: Fall Bouquets

Hello friends! I have quite the assortment of floral eye candy in store for y’all today, perfect for a fall affair! I have been known to spend hours at a time pouring over wedding magazines and blogs seeking out creative inspiration, and more often than not, floral arrangements have ranked as a favorite addiction. Today I am unveiling some of my obsession and I guarantee that  no matter your taste, you can be sure to find a stunning variety of seasonal garden blooms to tickle your fancy. Below you will find a flower inspiration board highlighting some of the Fall’s peak blossoms as well as bouquet arrangements to suit every bride’s wedding style.

Sit a spell with me and smell the roses!

FLOWER INSPIRATION BOARD

CLASSIC

SOURCE

MODERN

SOURCE

RUSTIC

SOURCE

SINGLE FLOWER

SOURCE

Design Trends: Burlap!

Burlap may just be my new favorite word this week. I have been stumbling upon so many creative uses of this heavy natural fabric and just knew it was a sign that they all were meant to be shared! Things I love about this material: 1, it is simple. 2, it is inexpensive. 3, it is oh-so-timelessly-rustic-and-charming. And it is so trendy right now so DEFINITELY take full advantage! Burlap is SO the new black!

1. Who doesn’t love a chivari chair with a delicate burlap sash?

2. These seating adornments for the bride and groom make my heart so happy.

3. What a quaint pillow for your rings to nestle into!

4. This invitation suite combines some of my favorite things (BURLAP, twine, lace, and vintage cameos) to create the perfect final product!

5. Monogram & Burlap. Love. Period.

6. How perfectly soul-satisfying is this burlap favor bag perched on that mint cloth napkin?!

7. Unique DIY boutonniere for the menfolk. DIY tutorial can be found HERE.

8. Forget the old run-of-the-mill paper garland or plastic banner y’all. Burlap banners is where it’s at!