Cachic Design | Custom Wedding & Event Invitations

Ity-Bitty Birdie Toppers

Lauren Boardman — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:34 +0000

We love birds! They are Retro, they are vintage, they are fabulous, and are a great addition to any wedding motif. I’ve blogged before about birds, but for some reason people can’t seem to get enough of these little winged phenoms. What I’ve found for today’s entry…birdie cake toppers! They are soooo adorable, and there are a number of vendors out there online who can custom make these special for your wedding day.

So take a look and get a jump on one of this seasons hottest trends!

Images from annwood.net, cornflakegirl, laurenalane.com, ashleyannabrown, apracticalwedding.com, tuckandbonte, emiliefriday, feltmeupdesigns, aislinnevents.com, weddingbee.com, and annwoodhandmade.com

Hot Summer Trends: We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Lauren Boardman — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:57 +0000

Cake is a given, but why at weddings do we not eat ice cream? What’s good for birthdays isn’t the same for the biggest day of our lives? Nonsense. Marie Antoinette said “let them eat cake”, I say “same goes for ice cream!” This summer, skip the dessert table and hire a mobile confection cart.

Mobile ice cream cart!

The summer of 2011 is breaking through with a big new trend… the mobile ice cream cart. You can actually find local vendors to come and camp out at your wedding and provide delicious ice cream treats to your guests. Whether it is your favorite organic vendor, or your neighborhood ice cream truck, take this offer up and check it out.

Surprise your guests after the cake cutting by getting behind the scenes and serving a few of your friends and family before getting busy on the dance floor. Nothing brings happiness the way our favorite frosty treats can. Help your guests beat the summer heat with this fun alternative for any summer wedding.

Local Shout out!: Those of you in the greater Columbus, Ohio area check out one of my favorite local ice cream shops: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. They have 2 great downtown locations: at 714 North High Street in the North Market or at 59 Spruce Street, and just outside downtown in Grandview at 1281 Grandview Avenue! There should also be a new “walk-up” located in German Village at 900 Mohawk Street…check it out.

Images from bridalinquirer.com, thesweetestoccasion.com, wedding-resource.com, manolobrides.com, fiftieswedding.com, kinsereventcompany.blogspot.com, eventsfactor.co.uk, lunaandchloeweddings.com, and brides.com

Bridal Grab-Bag: Big Dresses, Little Prices

Lauren Boardman — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:10:07 +0000

We all want to get the most bang for our buck when it comes to planning our wedding. Why not put this concept to the test while shopping for the most important dress you will ever wear! Believe it or not, you don’t have to break the bank to get that amazing wedding day look.

While shopping around for affordable bridal fashions, you’ll get the most for your money if you stick to the traditional department stores most of us have been shopping at since like, forever! I’ve compiled some of the hottest looks for the summer months, and believe it or not they are all UNDER $600!

The best places to shop: David’s Bridal, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, and J. Crew (I know, but trust me this isn’t you’re average J. Crew!).

While these fashions are not bridal couture, they are very elegant and will make your wedding ensemble sparkle just as you will when you walk down the isle on your big day. These stores house more pricey lines, so don’t exclude them based on this entry. My goal was to bring affordable fashion to the budget savvy brides out there.
Happy hunting ladies!

J. Crew Arabelle Gown

Galina Short Dress, 3D Floral Design

Vera Wang One-Shoulder Gown

Short-Sleeve Lace Organza Gown

Tadashi Shoji Lace Chiffon Gown

Macphee Strapless Taffeta Mermaid

Faviana Shirred One-Shoulder Florals

Betsy Adam Pleated Halter Gown

JS Boutique One Shoulder Gown

BCBGMAXAZRIA Strapless Tulle Gown

Images from jcrew.com, davidsbridal.com, nordstrom.com, lordandtaylor.com, dillards.com, saksfifthavenue.com, and uniquebridaldresses.net

Hot Summer Trends: The Refreshment Drink Stand

Lauren Boardman — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:59:29 +0000

Well, someone has to have their wedding in the summer months, and it just so happens to be you! But what to do to help everyone attending beat the summer heat? Offer up one of the seasons hottest trends… the drink stand.

Matching your wedding theme

You can get creative with this one. Match your refreshment table to fit the theme of your wedding day. You can go with elegant bulbous clear glass containers, or if you are looking for that rustic charm, incorporate vintage glass containers with ladles and allow guests to drink from mason jars.

Pull inspiration from a childhood classic…

…the lemonade stand! Incorporate a variety of sweet delights like lemonade, iced teas, punches, and even include some bottles of soda pop! An ice bucket would be handy, but a cooler is more likely to hold all the ice you’ll be needing. A cool way to mask an ordinary cooler, rummage grocery stores for unused wooden crates (this time of year a lot of items are shipped in them…especially sweet corn. If not available at your supermarket try a local farmers market).

Take your inspiration from the images we’ve collected for you. You don’t have to keep the refreshments to just themselves, incorporate them into your favors or make it a sweets table packed with a variety of tempting confections! Good luck and hopefully your soirée will beat the summer heat.

Images from dulcetanddapper.blogspot.com, weddingbycolor.com, divinepartyconcepts.com, frostmeblog.blogspot.com, 2bsquaredesign.blogspot.com, dandelionandgreyblog.com, theweddingco.com, and hostessblog.com

Seasonal Delights: Green and Yellow Wedding

Lauren Boardman — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:33:23 +0000

What I love about spring weddings is the freshness they bring as we enter into the busiest part of wedding season. 2011 will know no limits as our brides strive to stand out from the pack by using color as their weapon. One of my favorite combos for spring is yellow and green. You can keep it Oxford chic by incorporating navy blue into the mix, or keep with the favorite trend right now and add a vintage feel by matching up this pair with grey.

Inspiration

There are so many options to choose from and this color duo looks amazing in pictures. The green reminds us of renewal and growth and the yellow pops right in front of your eyes! Hopefully the images I’ve pulled help inspire you in your quest to plan your perfect wedding day. Good luck!

Images from victoriasouzablog.com, destinationidomagblog.com, manolobrides.com, bowtiesandbliss.com, wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com, projectwedding.com, erichegwer.com, weddingtalk.co.cc, elizabethannedesigns.com, lovelyandgracious.com, and stephaniewilliamsphotography.com

Window Walk-by: Candy Crazy!

Lauren Boardman — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:53:12 +0000

Keeping with the candy craze for your wedding reception, check out this neat find at Crate and Barrel.

I was doing my window walk-by Crate and Barrel the other day and was caught off guard. I saw these really neat serving bowls. They are on a asymmetric cut angle, and I thought to myself they would look amazing as candy holders for a candy bar. Sure enough when I went in to wander around that is exactly what they had used them for in their display. LOL… that’s why I love Crate and Barrel. Great minds think alike!

Best part, they are really affordable. Here’s the link to the serving bowls, check it out!

Images from crateandbarrel.com

Black, White, and HOT All Over!

Lauren Boardman — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:21:45 +0000

Nothing is more classic than a black and white themed wedding. This color duo is fierce and adds a power-packed punch to really rev up your wedding day! Classic and sophisticated, choosing these colors will crank up the level of intensity for your wedding and reception. The best part about this pair is that you can literally marry it with almost any accent color! Use it all year round.

Simplicity

My favorite attire with this combo is a simple white a-line dress accented with a solid black sash and crystal broach as accent around the waist. If the sash isn’t your thing, incorporating black diamonds or other black jewelry really makes a bold statement. I love the bridesmaids in black dresses. I know some think it is morbid for black to be in a wedding, just like guests are not suppose to wear white, but it truly is elegant.

Oh, the possibilities

Deck the halls with your color combo. I think solid black linen and white flowers are gorgeous! My new favorite… baby’s breath! I know right? It is simple and adds so much volume to your table. A plain tall clear vase is a perfect holder, and don’t forget your accent lighting. Take it up a notch and tie ribbon around the neck of the vase and either attach your table numbers or monogram to it! My other favs, poppies and hydrangea… call me dramatic, but when you see the end result you will thank me.

Don’t forget the cake

Even though buttercream is the new “it” for cakes, I think if you are planning an elaborate design fondant might be the best way to go. I would do an over the top cake and dessert table to really highlight the beauty of your theme. Personalize cute little gift bags or boxes to leave on your dessert table so your guests can take the delightful confections home with them!

Accessories

Hopefully these images will inspire your black and white themed wedding. If you love this color combo, don’t be intimidated to use it. It’s your wedding, your one day to shine so make it the best and everything you have ever dreamed of! Good wishes and best of luck.

Images from gary and julie wedding, geoffwhite.com, sangmaestro.com, weddingobsession.com, pubsub.com, destinationweddingmagblog.com, bride.ca, troygrover.com, uywedding.com, sight for style, moiraevents.com, and weddingcakepictures.org

Double Dress to Look Your Best?

Lauren Boardman — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:11:04 +0000

Want that “knock your socks” off look for your big day? If so, there are limitless possibilities to find your perfect dress… but what if the occasion called for two? What would you do?

We all want to look the most beautiful we ever have on our wedding day. We go on diets, start skin care regimes, sometimes even resort to plastic surgery, but when do we say “enough is enough?” For some brides the pockets run deep, for the rest of us we end up five years down the line still paying off credit cards. So, how realistic is the new double dress trend we were seeing in 2009 and 2010? If I could have afforded it I’m not so sure I would have bought another dress. I did just fine in my gown for the entire evening (well until we hit the bars afterward!).

I pose my question to you brides…

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Images from wedding-splendor.com, simplyeverythingwedding.com, bridal-bargains.co.uk, and shopchicks.com

Your Wedding Do List for 2011

Lauren Boardman — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:00:58 +0000

So, trendy may not be your thing in everyday life, but it may just be the answer for the best wedding day EVER!! I am trendy in real life, so my wedding was slightly more traditional… but not completely. When I was planning my wedding day I used some of the hottest trends on the scene to add that extra something special to make it an experience myself and my guests would never forget!

Simplicity is the key

With the economy still in a rut, the “less is more” theme still holds strongly in the hearts of our future brides and grooms. This year, less clutter, more value! Keep your reception look clean and chic. Solid linens and simple flowers. Basic table settings. Let light and shadow add the natural depth it creates by incorporating tea lights on your guest tables, cake table, gift, and drink stations. You will be amazed how beautiful all the little lights look when shining as a whole!

Take it outdoors!

Yes, Rustic wins for a second season. Go green by using nature as your palate. Incorporate grass, leaves, wildflowers, and other elements available. A hot trend for the fall months is using bails of hay for your guests to sit on at your ceremony, then re-using them as seating for your guests at your reception. Long tables will be the key. Kind of a picnic set up, except more couture! Don’t worry about a traditional bar. Have a few kegs and a couple wine selections. Use a friend, not in the wedding, to doll out the drinks, or hire servers from a local caterer! The more relaxed the atmosphere, the more authentically rustic your wedding day will be.

Let’s talk food

Brunches are going to be big, just like off day weddings. You can choose to have your wedding on a Sunday and do the “traditional” brunch after. You will save big bucks on this one, and can cut the bar in half. By offering drinks like mimosas, sea breezes, and screwdrivers, people will be less likely to pack the bar, and only providing a few types of liquor will cut costs dramatically (plus, who wants to be the drunk friend by 2pm?)! The menus will be simple, just like the décor. Gone are the multi-optioned dinners. Couples will be having a structured sit-down, or less elaborate buffet. Cakes are moving away from fondant and buttercream is replacing it for a more nostalgic look. Comfort foods are still front runners, but steak and chicken are close seconds. Oh, and of course… keeping the cupcakes!

What to wear: wedding party attire

The simplicity of the ceremony and reception will be counter balanced by the attire our wedding parties will be wearing. Getting back to tradition is the theme, and surprise… vintage is number one again! Look to see our brides in a variety of dresses, but will be incorporating “classic” touches like pearls and diamonds. They will be sparkling coming down the isle.

Men, on the other hand will be shying away from the “nice suit” look and will be donning the tuxes this season. There will be some that stray due to the resurgence of retro themes; so if your man wants the suit look, the key colors to choose are navy and grey. Let your bridesmaids shine by allowing them to pick their looks. As the bride you have the final say, but giving them some guidelines at the start will help them pull looks suitable to your taste. The hot returning trend is to pick one dress color and let your maids choose their own style in that color. It may be hard to do if you’re a control freak, but making sure your friends look great and feel comfortable on your wedding day will most definitely enhance the overall experience!

Accessorize and personalize!

This is dogma for your wedding and reception. Personalization was big last season and remains popular for 2011 weddings as well. Put your name on everything, and incorporate items that represent you as a couple… both individual and shared interests. Incorporate family photos and photos of you and your hubby-to-be. You can take this theme to your centerpieces by having family photos on the tables, or do a slide show about your lives… starting as children and leading to your engagement. After all, most of your guests will be family, so why not let them recap on your life with you?

Sticking with the photo theme, if you have the extra dough at the end of your planning, spring for a photo booth. They are fantastically fun! My husband and I went to a wedding this summer where the couple had rented one. We had great pics to take home, and it doubled as their autograph book. I definitely would have jumped on this trend if our venue would have allowed it… sorely they did not! If this trend is not in your budget, the next best thing is to simulate it! Get a cool vintage photography feel by setting up a backdrop (a curtain, cool vintage linens/bedspreads, or potted trees) and having your photographer shoot for an hour in front of it. The pics look super cool and it is a total DIY, which cuts costs tremendously!

Images from 4weddingfashion.com, theknot.com, onewed.com, ruffledblog.com, elizabethannedesigns.com, zherzdevavadudex, bonafidebride, bridaltweet.com, majesticgardens.com, weddingandcakes.com, exhibitemotions, mywedding.com, manolobrides.com, elitebridalconcierge.com, and abigailseymour.com

Wedding Dress Trends for 2011

Lauren Boardman — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:04:35 +0000

Yeah! In the wedding industry, this tends to be our favorite time of year… the unveiling of the new seasons’ trends. Where to start? Dresses of course! Let’s face it, on your big day all eyes are on you (sorry men but as if you didn’t already know). Your job as the bride: to look as fierce as possible. Your mission: the perfect dress to make you shine more beautifully than you are in everyday life! Well ladies, brides, and future brides, I have compiled some of the hottest looks of the season to help guide you in the search for your perfect wedding dress. Just remember… this is a tough job, but someone’s gotta’ do it!

The condensed version of what we saw on the runways: luxe textured fabrics, beaded trim and in the patterns of the dress, sequins and sparkles, colored fabrics for dresses, slimmer silhouettes, asymmetry, corset bodices, organza, tulle and lace, multi-tiered skirts, 3D flowered patterns and textures, and ruffles (both layered and draping). Quite a lot, so let us help you out!

What’s new

3D designs

Where we are seeing them: incorporated into the skirts, trim-work, and even whole designs throughout the dresses. The hot designer pick: petals and flower patterns (for the Spring lines of course!).

Dots!! And lot’s of them

The designers are embracing the retro themes yet again and paying homage to the free-loving eras of the 1960′s-70′s. Also tossed into this category are a variety of textured airy fabrics. A lot are organza and tulle inspired, and very chic!

Corset bodices

Don’t get too discouraged! We’re not talking 90′s Madonna in a pointed bra… we’re talking Vera Wang and extremely tasteful. Her designs this season are amazing. The bodice look is either smooth, incorporating silky and shiny fabrics, or more vintage feeling with lace, tulle, and organza. If you are looking for a more youthful feel, then these dresses may be the pick for you!

Color!! When I say color I mean color everywhere.

No longer are we banishing colored accessories to sashes and trim. This year the brides are wearing colored dresses (black, pink, yellow, champagne, purple… the list just keeps going on)! Sashes, trim, and beading are still in the color lead, but expect to see some serious drama this wedding season as brides strut down the isle in some not-so-traditional looks!

Pearls, sequins, and sparkles.

Not like we haven’t seen this trend before, but in 2011 they belong on the dress and not hanging from the bride! Designers are loving pairing pearls an sparkles on bodices and around the waistlines of their dresses. Expect to continue to see a lot of broaches and other types of solid applique looks incorporated either centrally on the bodices or spread throughout the entire dress.

The returning champions:

Our founding favorite. The Princess (or A line) dress

Every year a new style of dress is said to be the “black” of wedding dress styles, but no design ever outsells this classic cut. Designers are including some extra touches as embellishments for this look, but not getting carried away. Polish this style with a solid sash or keep it chic with a satin finished fabric and antique broach along the neckline.

The Mermaid

I don’t know why this style continues to be stocked in gown shops, but clearly some people still like this look. Not my favorite, but if you are tall or petite this gown is made for you! Incorporated into the 2011 family, look for a more trendy feel with lots of layering around the skirt and trim.

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles!!

Everywhere and nearly every style has adopted this dogma for 2011. If you’re looking for drama but not wanting to go all out color, then create drama with extra volume in the skirt of your dress. Look for layered tiers of organza, lace, and tulle or long flowing drapes of these fabrics along the skirts and backsides of dresses. Some designers are using ruffles along and below the waistline for a more victorian feel (it looks really cool!).

Asymmetric lines and the “short” wedding dress

They made it! I was a little nervous at first, but the short look and asymmetric dresses made it again for another season. We are still seeing a lot of the “Grecian” dresses, but some designers are using asymmetry in their patterns, textures, and hem lines of their looks. The shorter wedding dress designs are still very popular and are catering to the younger girls. They are very cute, but most definitely serve a specific demographic!

Hopefully this is a good starting place for you brides. A good knowledge base about trends and fashion are your tools for battle in wedding planning. I am dedicated to your plight and will keep you as up to date as possible. Venture out there brides and take no prisoners! Fabulosity stops for no one.

Images from weddinginspirasi.com, weddingsfresh, onestylishbride.com, wedding-dresses-2011.com, Green Wedding Shoes, becomegorgeous.com, fhiky.com, glamour.com, shibawi.com, and mbludak.com