A Crimson Kiss

Tequila Fresa

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Charles H. Baker Jr., loveable drunkard and certified bon vivant, traveled the world in search of a life well-lived. While some of the libatious adventures in The Gentleman's Companion should be avoided (I'm remembering a particularly disgusting morning emptying cachaça from coconuts buried in the front yard for a year), tequila fresa seems hard to beat!

Find a 2-quart jar with a sealer top. Into this put 1 quart stemmed, washed, cut up, and crushed strawberries dead ripe. Pour in 1 bottle Tequila. Seal tightly, and allow to stand for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain through a double cheesecloth, and you will find a lovely thing, a rosy liquor with its rude sharpness blunted, yet with the kick of a mule. It may be poured over ice, sweetened to taste, and consumed as is, for a quickie, or as a julep over fine ice, or frozen with cracked ice in the Waring Blendor, with the addition of the juice of 1/4 lime for tartness, in tropical style a Daiquiri. Color, a lovely rose; flavor unique.

Now tell me that doesn't sound delicious–cheers, and happy weekend!

Photo by Romulo Yanes for Gourmet.

Color Block

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:44:00 +0000

Something about this invite has absolutely captured my imagination–can't you just see a backyard wedding in a beautifully restored Craftsman home, Louise wearing a colorblocked cotton shift and Thom passing out Aperol cocktails in highball glasses? Or maybe that's just me.

What kind of wedding do you think suits this suite?

Color Block wedding invite by Paper Dahlia at Minted.

Davina + Daniel: Puerto Vallarta

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:06:00 +0000

Maybe you remember Davina and Daniel's gorgeous Vegas elopement–I fell hard for their classic style, their sense of fun and their wedding plan–marry soon after getting engaged so that no matter the exotic locale where they ultimately tied the knot, they wouldn't have to worry about the legality of their union. Pragmatic problem solvers with exquisite taste? It's no wonder they had such a chic elopement, and a downright gorgeous wedding!

The pair stumbled on their venue, the magnificent Casa China Blanca, without ever having put Mexico on their list of destination locations, and they teamed up with event planners Kristin and Michelle of The Dazzling Details to help coordinate a distance celebration that threw tradition to the wind. Davina and Daniel wanted to be married at sunset, but the villa had a strict rule against loud music after 11pm; faced with an unfavorably short reception, they scheduled dinner, drinks and toasts all before the actual ceremony would take place!

Davina wore a gorgeous Pnina Tornai gown purchased at Kleinfeld's and paired with a mix of vintage and J.Crew jewelry, while Daniel chose a slim-cut Zara suit and Reiss shoes. After their sunset ceremony, the newlyweds danced down the aisle to the dance floor, where they celebrated to the sounds of Minuit, Davina's father's band, until the venue shut down the party! Davina changed into a Tadashi dress and Christian Louboutin pumps for a sparkler exit with her sweetheart, the final frames beautifully captured by the couple's close friends, Ben and Erin Chrisman, who generously shared these stunning images with me.

Tell me, what's your favorite detail of this spectacular celebration? Or are you as single-mindedly focused on planning a Mexican vacation this summer as I am? To tell the truth, I just booked ours yesterday–we're headed to our favorite little home away from home, Hotel Secreto on Isla Mujeres!

All Your Own

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:55:00 +0000

I was talking weddings with the wonderful Rhi (you might know her as the powerhouse pixie behind Hey Gorgeous Events), and confessed how nervous I am to plan in view of so many other wedding bloggers and aficionados. But as I started to talk about the morning ceremony and brunch reception we're dreaming of in shades of white and grey with touches of crimson, I was so swept away in the excitement that I forgot to be self-conscious. In a world of over-proped photos, it's easy to feel like you're living a life just a little less fantastic than everyone else you know. But if you stop worrying about what your Facebook friends will think and celebrate the things you truly love, your wedding/kitchen remodel/dinner will be all your own–and what could be better than that? Maybe I won't actually wear patent leather red pumps on my wedding day, but it's a little peek at the celebration I just can't wait to plan!

Did you feel pressure planning your big day, or face it now? How did you handle those moments of self-doubt?

Image by Jennifer Bowen Photography.

Strawberry

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:53:00 +0000

John put on his graduation cap and brought home a Master's degree on Friday, so surely a celebration was in order! I'd made reservations at RN74, and we happily made our way through all the menus and wine lists–oysters on the half shell, pate de campagne, arctic char, duck breast, a cheese plate and a bittersweet chocolate tart with roasted bananas that I'm still dreaming about, to say nothing of the gorgeous wines we sipped. We didn't even open the bottle of Paul Bara brut rosé we had waiting in the fridge when we got home, and tumbled into bed instead.

John let me sleep late on Saturday morning, and while he ran errands, I caught up on some season finales and lovely blogs with a cup of English breakfast tea. We snacked on buttery croissants and fresh fruit into the early afternoon, rather than have a proper breakfast, and recuperated from a challenging week with hours in bed, watching episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations that had us making lists of places to visit (John wants to see the whiskey capitals of the world–Scotland, Ireland and Japan, while I've got Greece and the South Pacific at the top of dream destinations). After cleaning house, we decided to catch a showing of The Five-Year Engagement, which was hysterical and perfectly suited to the two of us, since we haven't made a single concrete plan since we got engaged in October! The movie was followed by dinner, a veritable Indian feast, and we were content to stroll home hand in hand.

We live very near to Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach, which means we have perfect quiet on most weekends–but Sunday was Bay to Breakers. San Franciscans love any excuse to dress up in a wild costumes (or no costume at all) and day drink, and they headed to our 'hood from early morning to late afternoon. John was up with the winners, making a beautiful Mexican-inspired breakfast he delivered to me in bed (I really do love Sunday mornings!). I managed an overflowing inbox while John practiced and arranged, and we watched the costumed revelers stagger down the street. Eventually we settled back in for a few more episodes of No Reservations–I guess we needed another weekend of recovery! Later that afternoon we took a stroll to Andronico's for basil, John's favorite dry-farmed tomatoes and plenty of fresh mozzarella to make up a bowl of Patricia pasta, a simple family recipe that's perfect for warm weather evenings. After a little yoga together, we prepared supper and poured ourselves two well-chilled glasses of rosé–the perfect end to a wonderfully relaxing weekend.

Tell me, how did you kick back this weekend? I can't wait to hear what you were up to!

Image by A Simple Photograph; see more of this gorgeous celebration on Style Me Pretty.

Greyhound

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The Kitchn spent last week talking cocktails, and one post in particular struck me–What do you order in a bad bar? Most of the drinks I feature shouldn't be attempted in bad bars–neon Budweiser signs or bathrooms that make you doubt the existence of a God are my first clues–so what should you order when you find yourself in a dive?

My go-to "safety drinks" are a Greyhound–1/3 vodka, 2/3 grapefruit juice with plenty of ice, or a Campari and soda, if the bar has a dusty bottle of Campari hiding on the shelf. Even though these are my orders in case of crisis, I actually love these drinks at home, especially in the spring and summer!

Tell me, what do you order in a bad bar?

Image by KT Merry.

Perfect

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:59:00 +0000

After last week's informal poll, I feel confident that I can announce womankind's favorite flowers–or at least brides, wedding vendors and the sort of bloggers, married or unwed, who read wedding blogs for fun. This might represent a particularly skewed demographic, but ya'll are as crazy for peonies, garden roses and lilacs as I am (and brava to the handful of you who love daises or sunflowers, for bucking the trend)!

With our favorite flowers in mind, I thought this might just be the perfect bouquet–what do you think?

Image by Jessica Loren Organic Photography.

Lindsay and Jake

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:25:00 +0000

Call me crazy, but there's just something different about the Atlantic–and since I live just a few blocks from the Pacific, I feel qualified to make that assertion. With summer just around the corner, I can smell the salty air of Massachusetts marinas and taste the corn on the cob–can you tell I'm not completely sold on life in San Francisco? This Nantucket wedding is the perfect way to celebrate all things perfectly prep, and a wonderful reminder that no matter the weather, the day you marry your one and only will be beautiful!

The pair, who used the beauty of Nantucket is their theme, sent out nautical-inspired invites for their August nuptials–little did they know Hurricane Irene was also on her way! After a year planning her perfect tented wedding, there was no way the bride was letting all that work go to waste, and so while guests called to cancel at the last minute, Lindsay and her family broke out the rainboots and umbrellas.

The bride chose a one-shouldered Amsale gown, paired with blue Kate Spade sandals, pearls and a feathered fascinator by Bride's Head Revisited. She and her bridesmaids, dressed in preppy classics Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers, carried lush ivory bouquets by Jean Cawley of A Taste of Nantucket, while her Canadian groom and his pals donned Nantucket Reds, Sperry Topsiders, navy blazers and Etro ties.

After a traditional ceremony at St Mary's, Our Lady of the Aisle, guests took cover under a Nantucket Tent. A Taste of Nantucket made sure guests experienced an East Coast summer feast, but it was the groomsmen's self-made fireworks display that truly blew everyone's socks off! Only hours after the reception was finished and vendors were breaking down the tent did Hurricane Irene arrive, and the newlyweds threw a "stranded party" the next day, since there was no transportation off the island! Bravely capturing each gorgeous moment was Brea McDonald, whose photos tell such a fabulous story of one couple's faith in love–and the weather. Thank you so much Brea, for letting me feature your beautiful work!

Striped

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:37:00 +0000

Ferragamos aren't usually the first brand brides turn to–Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are often what dreams are made of–but these striped beauties with their darling navy bow are just perfect for a nautical celebration! And can you imagine how adorable they'd look with dark denim? I'm sold!

Do you think a bride should buy shoes she'll only wear once, or again and again?

Image by Jessica Smith Photography.

My Anchor

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:33:00 +0000

This weekend was all about catching up–on sleep, beautiful blogs, and with each other. Every once in a while, especially after the two weeks we had, you just need some time in your pajamas–especially if you steal your sweetheart's!

I spent the end of last week nursing a cold, so Friday night's Indian food was most welcome, and just the thing to clear out my sinuses. John and I giggled over Horrible Bosses and fell asleep just as the credits started to roll. John was off early Saturday morning to visit a friend in the East Bay, so I spent the morning putting things in order, from my email to my closet. John got back just as I was finishing my late breakfast, and we crawled back into bed for the better part of the afternoon, watching weeks worth of 30 Rock without worrying about what else we could be doing.

We finally pulled ourselves out of bed for a stroll to the local coop for crème fraîche and eggs–the well-ripened bananas on our counter were just dying to be turned into Flour's delicious quick bread with a touch of bourbon! As that heavenly loaf baked, we decided to make homemade pizzas for supper–there's nothing better than a little melted mozzarella and goat cheese with a glass of prosecco, and it was a sure sign I was feeling better! We must have been in the mood to laugh this weekend because we rented The Hangover Part II from iTunes, but following it up with Into the Abyss, a documentary about two teenagers who committed a triple homicide for a red Camaro, was ill-advised and gave us both nightmares!

I woke up Sunday morning to a gorgeous breakfast, delivered by John–he tells me I should stop bragging about these breakfasts in bed before he starts getting propositioned, but I can't help but gush about my guy! After French omelettes, roasted rosemary potatoes, chicken apple sausage and our favorite caffeinated beverages, coffee for him and black tea for me, we got down to work. With school finished, John started preparing for his "summer semester" with to-do lists and repertoire plans, while I dove into some seriously lovely inspiration, thank you notes and my editorial calendar. Later that afternoon while John cleaned out every drawer of his desk, I spent an hour twisting myself into my favorite yoga poses, then spent some time with my Mama, and while I wished the phone hadn't been between us, it was wonderful to rehash last weekend and make plans for the future. We had a Thai feast for dinner (since we usually forget to each lunch on the weekends), and headed to bed early, feeling ready to take on this new week!

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Did you play catch up like we did, or were you out having all sorts of fabulous adventures?

Image by Alice G Patterson Photography; for more of this darling wedding, check out the Something Pretty and Style Me Pretty features!

Spiced Tequila Cocktail

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:12:00 +0000

After last weekend's Cinco de Mayo/birthday/recital celebrations, it's a wonder I don't feel like I've had enough tequila, but I just can't help exploring all the delicious varieties this spirit has to offer! This spiced pear cocktail was actually designed to be a fall libation, but I love vanilla and cinnamon all year round–don't you? With reposado tequila, pear nectar, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon and a bit of vanilla extract, it's the first time I've seen John perk up at the mention of a cocktail since last weekend–cheers!

Cocktail by Cookie and Kate.

English Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Impossibly gorgeous garden roses and a collar of leafy greens–this bouquet just feels like spring, don't you think?

What's your favorite spring flower? I'm partial to lilacs and peonies, but I can't ever pass up a rose!

Image by Pezz Photo, Bouquet by MMD Events.

PS–I'm tickled to be featured in the lovely Lily Lemontree's Profiles in Style series, where I'm sharing all my favorite things!

Kristina and Jesse

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Southern California is unquestionably gorgeous, but when these two lawyers decided to tie the knot, there was only one place they'd marry–the bride's family vacation home in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming. Can you believe those incredible views?

Guests knew they were in for a naturalist celebration from the moment they opening Tiny Pine Press' beautiful stationary suite–a hand-colored photograph of the house and pond served as the couple's save the date, and the invitation featured a twig and twine closure. Guest bags included local delicacies like Cowboy Chocolate, and an acre of rainforest, to offset the wedding's carbon footprint.

Kristina chose a ruffled Oscar de la Renta gown, paired with Christian Louboutin pumps for portraits and ivory Frye boots for the wedding, held beside the property's pond, while Jesse wore John Varvatos from head to toe. One sister served as bridesmaid in an ivory dress and gold hoop earrings, while the bride's younger sister wore a Crewcuts dress and carried a pail of petals and wildflowers. Bouquets by Cecelia Heffernan of Flower Hardware combined antique garden roses, sweet peas, clematis, and scabiosa, but boutonnieres were made of wildflowers and herbs collected on the property and tied together with leather cord.

While the couple snapped their first look photographs with Yvette Roman, nearly 200 guests gathered to take in the sublime setting and sip mason jars full of huckleberry lemonade. Kristina and Jesse's yoga teacher lead the multi-faith ceremony beneath an Aspen tree huppa that left few eyes dry. The newlyweds slipped away for a few private moments (and a glass of bubbly), then joined their guests under a large tent where twenty foot farm tables were covered in ivory linen and wildflower arrangements. Menus tucked into linen napkins outlined the local and organic meal prepared by Bistro Catering, including greens with truffle vinaigrette, roast chicken with mushrooms, Moroccan-spiced salmon and wines from California and the Pacific Northwest. Just outside tent, event planners Yifat Oren & Associates arranged Adirondack chairs around a fire pit, ready for roasting marshmallows, while an old barn door placed atop hay bales served as a rustic coffee table.

The couple's wedding cake was made up of their respective favorite flavors, red velvet and carrot, united by cream cheese frosting, but guests also had their choice of mini fruit pies, cobblers and homemade ice cream by Pai's Place. And as guests danced to the sounds of West Coast Music, a 12-piece big band from Los Angeles, the newlyweds toasted to a beautiful day surrounded by those they love most.

Images by Yvette Roman, spotted on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Bejewled

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:08:00 +0000

To me, "Valentino" is synonymous with rich shades of red, but these slate peep toes topped with gorgeous emerald gems have me green with envy–aren't they just divine?

Image by Greg Slick for Once Studio, Shoes by Valentino.

Diamond

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:09:00 +0000

Talk about a knockout, right? And that chartreuse shade inspired a whole week of gorgeous green color I just know you'll love!

John and I are nothing if not creatures of habit, and this weekend was a wild, wonderful departure from our routine. After a busy week at work, we came home and curled up together with our eye on my parents' arrival time. John's little brother Mike surprised us just as we were getting ready to head to the airport, and he hopped in the car to go along for the ride! Their flight was delayed, so our dinner plan and early bedtime was out the window, and we ended up bumping into John's high school friends, visiting from Texas, when we went to grab a late night dinner! We were in bed just before 1, which made my very early Saturday alarm all the more painful. While I would have loved to spend John's birthday brunching in the shade, our big office move went smoothly and we were lucky to have help from some of our amazing colleagues, who spent their Saturday building white boards and scrubbing our shiny new kitchen!

I headed home after a very long day, showered off the move and about an inch of dust, and meet up with my parents. We grabbed a few bottles of rosé and headed to our favorite Indian place (we needed a little familiarity this weekend!) where our parents finally met! Everyone spent the meal in stitches, and with all that laughing, it's amazing that we devoured such an enormous feast! I was relieved to get home early, and fell asleep mid-sentence, leaving John chuckling.

We woke up early on Sunday morning and decided to invite everyone over for a simple breakfast; a few hours later I took John to school, and finally it was time for his recital! After so many months of work, he played beautifully and we celebrated over tacos and margaritas at Tres, then took the party back to our apartment where John showed off his other talent–Old Fashioneds. After we said goodnight to our guests, John and Mike headed to the beach with his birthday gift–a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrel; they stumbled home close to dawn and covered in sand, and I found Mike the next morning asleep on the kitchen floor! With last night's antics I'm craving a few more hours of sleep, but with today's excitement over our new office space, I'm sure this week will only be busier than the last!

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Are you feeling ready for the week, or already craving Friday night happy hour?

Image by Jose Villa.

Rustic Margarita

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:09:00 +0000

In honor of tomorrow's Cinco de Mayo celebrations and John's birthday, I thought I'd share an oldie but oh such a goodie–his best margarita recipe. No orange liqueur, no sweet and sour mix–just three ingredients, and a bit of salt, if you're into that sort of the thing.

Margarita

2 oz tequila

1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 oz dark agave nectar

Combine tequila, lime and agave in a shaker with ice; shake for 10 seconds and pour into a glass, rimmed with coarse salt if desired.

Salud, and a very happy early birthday to the man I love!

Image by Stephanie Foley.

Milky White

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:04:00 +0000

Isn't this bouquet beautiful? I swoon over lush bouquets full of fabulous color, but at heart, I think I'm a big white bouquet kind of girl–after all, everything from our sheets to our dishes are a shade of milky white!

What about you? Will you pick a riotously colorful bouquet, or something a bit more subdued?

Image by Laurie Bailey Photography, Bouquet by Toni Chandler Flowers.

Corrine and Christian

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:21:00 +0000

As John and I plan our wedding day, we've agreed (thank goodness) on a few things, one of which is that we won't be getting married in a church. I love that Corrine and Christian, who also aren't religious, found a place with deep significance to the Art History and Law students, respectively–the Santa Barbara Courthouse. These two planned a celebration that was perfectly tailored to the two of them, and I must say, I'm smitten!

After selecting the stunning Mural Room of the Santa Barbara Courthouse for their ceremony, the pair decided that the Old World Spanish style of the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel was the perfect compliment to the bride's love of heirloom flowers and soft, subtle shades. Announcing the wedding's elegant atmosphere, Corinne worked with calligrapher Renée Troy to create a custom letterpress suite with linings inspired by decorative Spanish tiles and tapestries.

The bride wore a lace mermaid gown by Romona Keveza, paired with simple drop earrings and a gold bangle; her bridesmaids wore dresses from Anthropologie, and the ladies carried rose bouquets by Flower Wild, while Christian and his groomsmen wore well-tailored black suits.

After a joyous ceremony, guests made their way to the Biltmore Hotel for California cuisine and more gorgeous blooms from Flower Wild. Arrangements of ruffled roses, café au lait dahlias, Queen Anne's lace, ranunculus and dusty miller graced each table, along with votives full of flickering candlelight. The bride's mother embroidered each guest's name on a hem-stitched linen napkin, which served as escort cards, and she stitched together the couple's fabric "guest book" into a beautiful quilt. Homemade cookies and local wildflower honey were sweet treats for guests, but not sweeter than the father-daughter dance; after major surgery, he set aside his pain to twirl his beautiful daughter on the dance floor. Following heartfelt toasts at the open mic, guests enjoyed a Robyn Loves Cake confection modeled after the bride's gorgeous gown, captured sublimely by Susan Dean Photography and first spotted on Style Me Pretty.

Fit for a Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:03:00 +0000

These shoes remind me of a bride finally kissing her Prince Charming, of a fairytale come true.

Who's your favorite fairytale bride? I'm partial to Ariel of Little Mermaid fame and Beauty who married the Beast, but I bet I'd be mad for whatever Snow White and her seven groomsmen would have whipped up!

Shoes by Manolo Blahnik, Image by Jen Huang Photography.

Seaworthy

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:04:00 +0000

John and I took this weekend to prepare for the coming week–seven days from today, our parents will have met for the first time and celebrated John's 26th birthday, he'll have performed his Master's recital and with the help of lots of terrific people, Identified will be moved into swanky new office space in China Basin. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl back into bed this morning and take a nap!

We spent Friday devouring our customary Indian feast and episodes of AMC's The Killing–Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events suggested the show last weekend and John and I are completely hooked! We fell asleep early and I slept in until 10; when I woke up, John was toasting pain au levain for our beautiful breakfast spread. We curled up together to take in a few more episodes of our new favorite show, then settled in with our computers and to-do lists. After an afternoon stroll to our local coop for fresh basil and Valencia oranges, we sipped Campari and sodas with the windows thrown open before making up a beautiful pasta pomodoro. We finished the most recent episodes of The Killing that night (I'm telling you, if you haven't seen it, avoid it so you won't be consumed by it like we obviously have!) and fell fast asleep before any of our neighbors had turned out their lights.

John woke me up early with another beautiful breakfast on Sunday morning, and we worked on one of his final papers while sipping our tea. A few hours of musical analysis later, the two of us pulled on jeans and headed out in the gorgeous weather to run a few errands–a booze superstore for Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve bourbo n, Corralejo's reposado tequila and Fever Tree club soda (John's favorite), then Andronico's for fish taco fixings and plenty of avocados. We devoured a shared sandwich and some peanut butter-filled pretzels even before we got home, and then took to our respective desks (I actually work from the kitchen table) to cross a few more tasks off the list. Late that afternoon, I pulled my hair back for a little yoga before settling down for John's delicious tacos–and a few more hours of brainstorming and editing his paper on Francis Poulenc.

Now that I've shared our latest TV obsession, I'm dying to know–what's the show you can't stop watching? Are you delighted to be reunited with Mad Men, furtively watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey, or are you hooked on something else altogether?

Image by Katie Pietrowski.

West Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:54:00 +0000

"I had taken two finger-bowls of Champagne, and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental and profound"

–F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Image by John Dolan.

Gingham

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:12:00 +0000

Years of preppy surroundings have given me an appreciation for cable knits, tasseled loafers and pearl studs–to say nothing of argyle, blackwatch and gingham! I just love the pairing of an impeccably tailored tuxedo with this casual bowtie and pocket square–perfect for an East Coast celebration, don't you think?

Are you influenced by the fashions of your hometown, or look elsewhere for inspiration?

Image by Dede Edwards Photography.

Ginger and Greg

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:14:00 +0000

When you and your future husband live on a gorgeous Virgina estate named Edgehill, originally built for the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and her husband, where else on Earth would you tie the knot? I may not be lucky enough to have a historic home, but there's still plenty of inspiration to take from this classic celebration!

With the help of designer and coordinator Jennifer Carroll, Greg and Ginger planned an elegant garden ceremony and a dinner for 150 guests under a tent on the manicured lawn. Invitations, printed with a sepia-toned feather designed by Amy Graham Stigler for Bella Figura, introduced the pair's triple-G monogram, for their first names and shared last initial, and featured calligraphy by Heather Rolfe of Heather Belle Ink. Ginger wore a creamy embroidered lace mermaid gown from Priscilla of Boston, paired with ornate drop earrings and her lush peony bridal bouquet by Pat's Floral Design. Her bridesmaids wore blue, while Greg and his groomsmen looked dapper in their best tuxedos.

After the ceremony, guests took in their palatial surrounds with cocktails on the lawn–the Double G, a vodka tonic with a splash of Campari, and the Triple G, a St Germain tipple. They joined the newlyweds under the tent, filled with hydrangea arrangements and floating candles, for a dinner by Have Food-Will Travel, including fillet of beef au poivre with Madeira sauce, and grilled salmon with dill lemon butter served with smashed potatoes and haricots verts, and a slice of the five-tier coconut-covered confection by Cakes of Art. Emme St. James and Her Jazz Gentlemen played jazz standards, including "At Last" for the newlyweds' first dance, while guests dined, but to mark the end of dinner and the beginning of dancing, the couple relied on something truly explosive–fireworks! And talented photographer Jen Fariello was on-hand to capture each gorgeous moment, first spotted on Martha Stewart Weddings!

What's your favorite detail of this well-heeled fête?

Dream a little dream

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:05:00 +0000

I'm a Charlotte, through and through, but that doesn't mean I don't occasionally envy Carrie's shoes...

Looks like this bride's got the best of both worlds!

I think nearly all my girlfriends could tell you their Sex and the City character without a moment's hesitation–what about you?

Image by Sylvie Gil Photography, "Something Blue" satin pumps by Manolo Blahnik.

Vintage

noreply@blogger.com (Lena at A Crimson Kiss) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:15:00 +0000

By now, you can probably guess what I was up to this weekend–Indian food with a glass of Cava, poached eggs and rosemary hash browns at Hayes Valley's The Grove, afternoons with beautiful blogs and in downward dog, and even one heavenly afternoon nap with John. So instead of rehashing a delightful but predictable weekend, I thought I'd share something a bit more personal–my very first wedding!

At least I think it's my first wedding–I was probably 4 in this photo, so there were probably other weddings before Fanny's, but this is the first one I remember. Fanny was our nanny, and lived with us until she got married; she's remained another parent, and when she comes for Christmas dinner or birthday celebration, it feels like my family is all together again. That family includes Kelly, the blond standing next to me (you're not shocked that I'm the brunette with bangs, are you?). Our parents took Lamaze classes together, we were born just weeks apart, and Kelly (and later, her younger sister Megan) came over every day, so we were raised like siblings.

While I remember sneaking frosting from the first tier of Fanny's buttercream wedding cake, and taking that blue Fiat in the background to Carvel for soft-serve ice cream afterwards, I think it's the details that have had the biggest effect on me. The Swiss dot, the pearls, the gloves, even the bateau neckline and high-low hemline with a hint of ankle showing–I have something not all that different in mind for my own dress! As I poured over photos from Bridal Market this weekend, what struck me was how beautifully designers had made old new again, from Carolina Herrera's black and swiss dot gown that could have been pulled from Cecil Beaton's My Fair Lady costume archives and that fabulous pant suit with the outrageous straw hat that belonged on an H.M.S. Pinafore set to Romona Keveza's va-va-voom silhouettes, newcomer Hayley Paige's sweet eyelet lace gown with a demure high-low hemline that's more garden wedding than Little House on the Prairie to Oscar de la Renta's incredible collection: the pearl-embroidered mini and matching car coat, perfect for the second Mrs Don Draper, the high-waisted pants and belly-baring bandeau fit for the chicest Palm Springs nuptials by the pool, and those white lace gowns with blue tulle–as equally appealing to girls in studded Jeffrey Campbell boots as Repetto ballet flats. I think it's safe to say I'm smitten with this season's collections!

Tell me, what gowns or details from Bridal Market have you swooning–or planning a vow renewal?