The Frosted Petticoat

One pill makes you smaller...

2013-05-23T15:21:00.000-04:00

If I had my way, the FP blog would become the Mad Hatter extravaganza! I am personally obsessed with all things 'eccentric tea party'. So whenever a ridiculously awesome Alice in Wonderland party is thrown my way, guess what? You're going to see it! And today is one trippy ride down the rabbit hole. Check out photographer Sara Kathleen's inspiration behind the madness:

I'm on a mission to constantly feed my creativity... no matter how busy life gets! Which is why I am doing this project - I'm calling it the 'Ever After' series. I've been partnering with some of the most amazing, talented wedding vendors on the Central Coast of California to create styled shoots inspired by the fairy tales we all grew up loving.

This particular part of the series is Alice in Wonderland. I chose the Dana Powers House because it is everyone's dream garden. My friends Taylor and Dom modeled as Alice an the Mad Hatter. There were no rules, no expectations, just unbound creativity - my personal heaven. Jamie Gilbert of Ever After Artistry brought my vision to life with her mad design and styling skills. She set up the tablescape for our mad tea party, stocked to the hilt with clocks, scrumptious treats, fizzy beverages, and pink flamingos. Alice in Wonderland is one of my all time favorite stories, so we drew all our inspiration from the book and films... as well as a few personal touches of our own. I really hope you enjoy it!

Photography: Sara Kathleen

Event Design: Ever After Artistry

Floral Design: Jenny McNiece Flowers

Venue: Dana-Powers House

Rentals: Embellish Vintage Rentals

Men's Attire: Tux & Tulle

Bakery: Sallyface Cakepops

Handmade Goods: Glitterfarm

An Austen Affair

2013-05-23T12:44:00.001-04:00

Ambiance can play a huge role in formulating your wedding theme. So, if you're going for a Jane Austen feel, one cliche holds true... location, location, location. Merissa and Mark's Vancouver, British Columbia nuptials are a fabulous example of location dictating theme. With an British garden-like setting and simple vintage details, this is one affair Miss Austen wouldn't have missed...

Photography: Rachel Barkman Photography

Venue: Aberthau Mansion

(Baby) Rosie the Riveter

2013-05-22T12:25:00.003-04:00

Spice up your family portraits with a theme! From safari excursions at the zoo to glamping in the woods, families are getting creative. And a unique theme is exactly what Zaide's mom had in mind for the little one's close up. Complete with three fabulous retro outfits, check out this adorable 1950s themed family portrait session...

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography

Hipster Picnic

2013-05-22T11:42:00.002-04:00

Hipster is the 'it' trend right now, so let's embrace the rebellious style. With a nod to eras past mixed in with super modern fashion sensibilities, hipster chic is not only taking over the urban streets its permeating throughout the wedding world. Laura and Joshua's engagement shoot is a perfect example of the trend integration. With a rustic setting, a retro groom, and a boho bride, this is truly the epitome of hipster chic...

Photography: Christine Gosch

Dress Store: Forever 21

Ribbons & Ruffles

2013-05-21T14:17:00.000-04:00

The arrival of a newborn is a true reason to celebrate! Lately we've noticed a shift away from traditional pink and blue baby showers into more unique themes... and we couldn't be more thrilled! Today's adorable shower for expectant Kristen had a ribbons and ruffles theme, complete with modern chevron and vintage china. Check out the adorable ribbon detail on the cake, water bottles, and pom-pom decor...

Photography: Kelly Broyles Photography
Event Planning: B. Belle Events
Cake & Venue: Cakes by Appointment

Daisy & Gatsby Get Married!

2013-05-21T10:17:00.000-04:00

Since I was once a bride planning my own very own 1920's inspired nuptials, I'm partial to The Golden Era! So, naturally I am smitten with today's Great Gatsby themed wedding shoot. With glitz and glamor at the ready we can only imagine that if circumstances had been different, Daisy and Jay would have had an affair just like this...

Photography: Rochelle Wilhelms Photography

Event Planning: Alluring Events & Design

Floral Design: Visual Impact Design

Invitations: Invitations Ink

Dress Store: Enchanted Bridal Shoppe

Equipment Rentals: Dogwood Party Rentals, America's Party Rental

Cake: Sweet Cakes by Rebecca

DJ: SJ's Disc Jockey

Linens: Mimi & Co Linen Rentals

Makeup: imakebeautiful

Men's Attire: Tuxedo Den

Venue: The Vizcaya Pavillon & Mansion

Rustic Pastels

2013-05-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Do it yourself weddings are all the rage in this recessionary era. By gathering decorative elements from your attic to a local garage sale, a gorgeous vintage-inspired wedding is readily available. To give you an idea of the kind of theme this budget-savvy outlook can produce, check out this lovely stylized shoot in Headland, Alabama. Here's what photographer Angela Crowe had to say about the DIY inspiration:

This shoot was inspired by everything romantic and shabby chic. We really wanted to focus on the light spring colors and enhance the elegance that a DIY wedding could have. We also tried to show this in such a way that any DIY bride could do this type of styling with a little bit of creativity and inspiration from others.

Photography: Angela Crowe Photography
Event Planning: Bri's Event Planning & Styling
Catering: Delectable Edibles
Floral Design: Weddings by Selena
Invitation Design: Wiregrass Weddings
Dress Store: The Little White Dress Shoppe
Heirlooms: Antique Attic
Makeup: Hair & Makeup Design by Tina Benites
Men's Attire: Barefield's Downtown Ozark

Life's a Beach!

2013-05-20T12:23:00.004-04:00

Summer is almost here! And with the advent of the hot months, let's celebrate our favorite warm-weathered fete... the beach wedding. So, what better way to kick off the sandy season with gorgeous seaside nuptials. Vividly created by a lovely group of vendors, here's event planner Jeneen Bellizzi O'Toole's explanation of their dreamy beach wedding shoot:

Our initial thought process for the shoot was 'Mint'! We've been anticipating since the resort collections broke, that mint would be the color for Spring and we love it! And we love how mint pops with the magenta napkins and the stunning hot pink roses in the bouquets and centerpieces. An ethereal sea nymph maid of honor gown ties it all together. The mint and magenta palette are echoed in the cake, sparking wine, invitations, menues, and tableware.

Though we love glam and glitz, we didn't want to take away from the natural beauty of the Florida coast. So, our bride and maid of honor soaked their toes in the sea, were surrounded by natural shells, sea glass, and rattan candle holders. Natural burlap table runners dress the dinner and card tables. We wanted the shoot to be many things, but mostly colorful, glamorous, natural, and involve some antique elements.

Photography: Roohi Photography

Event Planning: Belle Tulle Events

Cake: A Piece of Cake

Linens: Custom Linen Rentals

Invitations: The Paperdolls Ink

Dress Shop: All Brides 2 Be

Hair Accessories: Belle Tulle

Makeup: Carissa Mosley

Models: Alexis Cook, Emily Wehunt

Maleficent Married

2013-05-20T11:42:00.001-04:00

Fairytale fans, brace yourself! We have an amazingly imaginative Sleeping Beauty themed wedding shoot for you to drool over today. Here's what photographer Cathie Berry-Green of BG Productions had to say about this stunning event:

In anticipation of Angelina Jolie's 'Maleficent' coming out, BG Productions and Papertini teamed up with an amazing group of vendors to bring Maleficent into her wedding fantasy! The color scheme chosen was green and gold with a touch of dark purple and red. The invitation, program book, and menu cards by Golden Silhouette are accented with gold threads to complete the interpretation of the spinning wheel.

Our Maleficent represents a fearless, confident bride. She is elegant, sexy, bold, and gorgeous. Her ceremony dress was an elegant ball gown layered with lace and tulle. The gold cake was subtly decorated and accented with a black feather as an homage to Maleficent's crow. The cake was accompanied by two matching mini cakes.

We really wanted to showcase the beautiful side to a 'darker' themed wedding. Black wedding dresses were all over the runway this year and that fit perfectly into our vision. A more matte style of photography was chosen to show off al those rich colors and edgy wedding style!

Mal shoot from Flat World Media Productions on Vimeo.

Photography & Videography: BG Productions

Event Planning: Create The Moment

Floral & Event Design: Papertini Floral & Event Design

Props: Primitive Dwelling

Paper Props: Golden Silhouette

Cake: Ciao Bella

Dress Designer: Jennifer Kohler Designs

Dress Store: Bebe, Page Six...It's Haute!

Hair: Dina Alon

Venue: The Woodlands

Washington Glory

2013-05-15T16:10:00.003-04:00

Ah, the unmatched beauty of Mother Nature! There's truly nothing like the decor of one's natural surroundings, so why not incorporate it into your next event? That's exactly what photographer Amanda Lloyd did for this late-winter Washington shoot. Here's what she had to say about the event:

Washington creates its own element of outdoor romance and is the perfect place to do a shoot! Dyan and Daniel were celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary and were excited to do the portraits. We paired with local floral, bridal, and cake vendors to create the lovely atmosphere. Vintage was the theme and local antique shops proved to be exactly what we were looking for. I love everything about this shoot and am thrilled to share it!

Photography: Amanda Lloyd Photography

Dress Store: David's Bridal

Men's Attire: Men's Warehouse

Bakery: Dianne's Delights
Handmade Goods: Her Couture, From The Wood Shed

It's In Your DNA

2013-05-15T15:51:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, good wedding themes can come from your DNA. Yup, you have the genetic code already inside you for a great fete. No matter where you were born, I can guarantee that your ancestors had some amazing lives. So if you're stylistically stuck, reflect on your family's past and see what ideas pop up. Take for example photographer Jessica Young. She came up with an amazing idea for a bridal shoot from her grandparents' love story. Here's what she had to say about the inspiration:

One of the most romantic stories I've ever heard is how my grandparents fell in love. While my grandfather was working as a mechanic in the Air Force, a mutual friend convinced him to start writing to my grandmother. Their friendly correspondence quickly turned into letters of love. When they met for the first time, they knew they were meant for each other. Shortly thereafter they were married. Though they had a happy marriage, my grandmother's life was cut short by breast cancer. Because she passed away when I was very young, I've always thought of her as an angel.

I styled this steampunk theme with my grandparents' story in mind. Using gears and propellers to represent my grandfather's work as an airplane mechanic and angel wings to represent my grandmother. I also used their love letters as the visual motifs for the project. The wedding cake is topper with a picture of my grandparents and the words written across the fondant are from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem 'How do I love thee?'

Photography: JKB Young Photography

Hair: Priscilla Jay

Makeup: Designs by Justyna Kszton

Floral Design: City Iris

Dress: Pronovias

Cake: Lavender & Gold Lace

Jewelry: Mocki Designs

Headpiece: Jonche & Co.

Model: Isabel C.

Faerie Bump

2013-05-15T15:22:00.001-04:00

When Alina and Elijah found out their were expecting their fourth child, they figured it was about time they had maternity portraits taken. So draped in dreamy fabrics and floral accessories, they set out for a stunning Spring shoot. The result? A gorgeous faerie-inspired maternity shoot...

Photography: ArinaB Photography

Wedded Priorities

2013-05-14T16:05:00.000-04:00

I cannot stress enough the importance of hiring a good photographer for your wedding. It should be your number one priority! And in this era of budget-conscious brides and grooms, it's even more important. Forget the flowers... they die anyway! Who needs expensive shoes... you're going to take them off immediately after the first dance! Fancy reception location... your guests already love and adore you, no need to impress them! If you're going to spend big bucks on anything, it should be on the photographer.

A good photographer is able to add a theme through lighting and style. A good photographer can perfectly grasp the significance of your grandmother's locket or the note you slipped to your intended. Most importantly, a good photographer can capture those important moments throughout the day, immortalizing mere seconds into cherished memories. So hire the photographer of your dreams and then plan the rest of the day around your remaining budget. You already have the most important and priceless wedding decor that will shine bright over any centerpiece... true love!

Here is a prime example of the power of an amazing photographer. Justen and Renee wanted a small wedding with only their closest family members in attendance. See how photographer Bethany Erin perfectly captures the overwhelming love that decorated this intimate affair...

Photography: Bethany Erin Photography

Frosted Find: Mina Olive

2013-05-14T15:28:00.001-04:00

We love coming across soon-to-be wedding superstars... and Mina Olive is just that! With unique bridal gowns for every style, this dress shop is sure to get every bride's heart pumping. So, make sure you're properly seated and take a gander at these stunning bridal gowns... they'll take your breath away!

Photography: Ella Gagiano Photography

Dress Designer: Mina Olive

Accessories: Tower of Jewels

Venue: Commonwealth DTLV

Hong Kong Shabby Chic

2013-05-13T15:19:00.000-04:00

Working in the wedding world, I've had the privilege of making friends with some amazing photographers. The one thing that these photographers love about their jobs... destination weddings! Yup, it's the perfect combination of timeless love and unique atmosphere that these artistic minds crave. So, naturally photographer Matthew Nigel was elated to be invited to shoot the Chinese nuptials of Arka and Fei. Here's what he had to say about the experience:

Arka and Fei found me on Pinterest and decided to email me and see if I would be willing to travel to Hong Kong to shoot their wedding... to which of course I said 'yes!'. They are a very hip couple, using vendors and locations that most people from Hong Kong wouldn't have used. Fei and Arka wanted to have a wedding with traditional Chinese elements (tea ceremony, games, etc.), as well as more modern Western elements. The entire day reflected their personalities!

Photography: Matthew Nigel Photography
Venue: The Peak Lookout

Frosted Find: Go Fish

2013-05-09T11:44:00.001-04:00

We have a wonderful Spring fashion find for you today! Go Fish is a socially conscious fashion company who offer wares from artisans from around the world. With a focus on fair business practices, you can enjoy shopping without any guilt. Their gorgeous casual designs are perfect for unique accessories, bridesmaids dresses, and an eclectic honeymoon wardrobe. Here's our favorites from their Spring 2013 line...

Hanalei Hilo Batik Dress

Mali Batik Top

Serendipity Batik Dress

Hanalei Hilo Batik Dress

Photography: Fishy Face Studios

Products: Go Fish

Makeup: Katherine Taylor Makeup

Engaging Train Ride

2013-05-08T09:54:00.001-04:00

As a gal who spends her weekends rummaging through flea markets in Brooklyn, you know I'm partial to vintage themes. So, naturally I just about died when I saw this 1940's themed engagement shoot from England. Set at an old railway station in Tintern, United Kingdom and dripping in antique goodness, welcome to Laura and Andrew's engaging day at the rails...

Photography: Charlene Morton Photography

Hair: Bride & Groom Mobile Hairdresser

Makeup: Thea McDonald

Venue: The Old Station

Sea Baby

2013-05-08T09:25:00.003-04:00

There's ways to capture the beach atmosphere even if you don't have access to a shore. This is exactly what mama-to-be Megan did for her maternity portraits. By integrating treasures from the ocean and a sea foam green frock, she perfectly captures the allure and calmness of a seaside day.

Photography: Michael and Carina Photography

Our Mexican Heritage

2013-05-06T16:48:00.000-04:00

Your wedding day is a time to express who you truly are and what is most important in your life. That's why we love culturally themed weddings! They celebrate your past, while helping to create your future. So, we instantly gasped with delight when we saw these photos of Socorro and Mike's gorgeous wedding day. Here's a fun Q & A with the bride about her big day...

What was the inspiration for your decor?
Our Mexican heritage! We wanted to have a wedding that represented and combined the best elements of all the family celebrations we grew up with... food, games, music, and colors.

What was your favorite part of the day?
Walking into the church and seeing Mike for the first time. I could see his smile from way back in the entryway!

What was the funniest moment?
At the end of the night after all our guests said their goodbyes and we thanked them for coming... Mike and I looked at each other and realized we did not have a ride home! Everyone had left! Luckily some friends spotted us on the street trying to catch a taxi!

What advice would you give future brides and grooms?
Take your time and enjoy each moment. Don't worry about schedules, just go with the flow. I wish I would have been less worried about timing.

Photography: Victoria Sprung Photography

Ceremony: St. Francis of Assisi

Reception: Prairie Production

Cake: Bittersweet Bakery

Catering: Millenium Decorations & Catering

Band: Mariachi Mexico

Rockin' & Rollin'

2013-05-06T16:16:00.000-04:00

Watch out brides because gorgeous Sarah has been unleashed! For her rock the dress session, Sarah came out swinging. With stunning hair to match her tattoos, gorgeous accessories, and a snake (yup, you heard me right!), this bridal portrait session is sure to take your breath away...

Photography: Hand in Hand Photography

Floral Crown: Sweet Little Sparrow

Necklace: Dream Day Design

Petticoat Review: eShakti

2013-05-06T13:23:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't want a custom-made dress? I sure know I do! But often times, budget stands between you and the perfectly fitted dress of your dreams. Well, ill fitted smocks be gone! eShakti is the solution to all your clothing woes. This fabulous dress shop allows you to customize their reasonably priced items to your own body measurements. In addition, you can also customize a dress's length or embellishments. For a picky, yet budget conscious fashionista like myself, this shop is a dream come true! For this product review, I picked out an adorable no sleeve, short mid-thigh Spring dress. Then upon checkout I entered my body measurements, requested half sleeves be added to the design, and that the skirt hit right below the knees on my 5'8" frame. Within a week I received the fully customized (and might I say, fierce) dress! Here's the result...

And yes, that is yours truly modeling the fabulous dress at the FP blog headquarters. You might be wondering why all the shots are from the neck down... let's just say, it was a very early Monday morning shoot (frizzy hair!).

Can't you just envision this dress in a bridal party for a colorful Springtime wedding? Cue the inspiration:

Get all these goodies here:

Bridesmaid Clutch by Upstyle

Cake Stand by Fresh Pastry Stand

Glass Bottles by Embellish 1122

Garter by Pink Lemonade Handmade

Earrings by Vintage Girl

Cake Topper by It Tops The Cake

Geo Garland by Le Petite Fest

Boho Dress by Suzanna M Designs

Floral Invite by Behold Designz

Air Plant by Petit Beast

Floral Crown by DeLoop

So here's the final verdict on eShakti:

Product Quality:

Superb! Made from the best fabrics and custom tailored to your every whim, the quality could not be better. eShakti spares no expense with the design details and embellishments. Even the dress lining is made from a quality fabric. We're convinced that the company rivals local tailors and dress shops.

Packaging:

Within a week from placing my order, the custom tailored dress had arrived at my door. Carefully packaged, the product arrived in pristine condition and was ready to wear. With their lightening speed shipping and thoughtful packaging, you can be assured your order will arrive safely.

Price:

Excellent! eShakti can stand tall amongst popular department stores in both selection and price. You can purchase a completely customized dress for the same price as a comparable standard size dress at your local mall. And unlike other online retailers, you know the outfit will actually fit you since it's made to your measurements. Fabulous value for the product!

Shop Selection:

Perfect for the vintage-minded gal, they have a huge retro-inspired dress selection. With everything from bridesmaids to beach chic covered, you'll find it hard not to spend your whole paycheck in one click. Again, considering that you can add/remove sleeves, skirt length, neckline, pockets, and embellishments to the dresses, you have infinite possibilities.

Overall:

If you do not have a cookie-cutter body shape, then eShakti is your dress shop!

Violet Sunset

2013-05-03T13:32:00.001-04:00

Old is the new black! With gorgeous vintage wedding inspiration around every corner, we can't help but embrace this trend. So naturally, we are loving this vintage-inspired violet wedding in Capay Valley, California. With dreamy florals, antique details, and a retro car it's no wonder newlyweds Sabrina and Franco had such a blast at their nuptials!

Photography: Rochelle Wilhelms Photography

Venue: Taber Ranch

Youthful Twilight

2013-05-02T10:49:00.001-04:00

Oh the agony of being a tween! Not quite a child, not quite a teenager. This twilight period can be both defining and traumatizing for a young soul. The sheer horror of newly acquired hormones, the longing for your childhood toys!

I spent these terrible years trying to hide my 'developing body' while desperately clinging onto the luxurious fantasy worlds of my youth. In other words, I was an awkward tween with double D's, stood a good foot above my peers, and had a wicked habit of quoting Star Wars films at the drop of a dime. I might as well have drawn a target on my back because I was fresh bullying meat. But Tween Petticoaters, don't despair! It is a fleeting era that builds a lifetime of character.

Photographer Hilary Cam understands the delicacy of this period. Hilary didn't want to catapult young Lily into teenage-dom with an adult-themed portrait session. Instead she celebrated this youthful twilight with a sweet homage to this special time in a child's life. With a "Cow Jumped Over the Moon" fairytale theme, observe how these gorgeous photos perfectly capture the beauty and innocence of tween years.

So my lovely tweens, enjoy your last fleeting moments as children and take your time on the journey to adulthood. Just remember that if a 5'8" eleven-year-old sci fi fanatic can survive the horrible bullies of middle school and grow to be a successful, attractive, and well adjusted human being, then you'll be just fine! You too can end up falling in love and living happily ever after with the tall, ruggedly handsome, ridiculously sweet man of your dreams (whom it turns out was a short, chubby twelve-year-old who got thrown into a trash can or two). Oh yeah... and may the force be with you! ;)

Photography: Hilary Cam Photography

The Sunny Side of Life

2013-05-02T09:22:00.000-04:00

With Spring in full bloom, you're sure to be attending a warm-weathered wedding or two. To celebrate this happy season, let's take a peek at Springtime nuptials that have taken full advantage of the newest trend in the wedding world... theme mixing. That's right, couples these days aren't just settling on an all beach fete or exclusively shabby chic celebration. Nope, it's becoming more and more common for weddings to be a stylized hodge podge of themes, palettes, and designs. For a lovely example, check out Tiffany and Joel's Arizona nuptials. With a modern meets rustic meets pastel theme, it's a heartwarming example of the benefits of unique pairings...

Photography: Jill Lauren Photography

Floral Design: Garden Gate

Catering: Gold Star Catering

Cake: Sweet Confections

Music: Ramma Jamma DJ

Dress Store: David's Bridal

Men's Attire: Men's Warehouse

Venue: The Windmill Winery

Rustic Springtime

2013-04-30T15:54:00.000-04:00

More often than not, rustic weddings are associated with Autumn. The distressed wood and earthy details pair well with fall leaves and cool weather. But what about the other seasons in the year... can't they get some rustic loving? Of course they can! Witness 'Exhibit A'. Jason and Maggie's Midwestern nuptials had all the fixings of a good ol' Kentucky shindig - horseshoe details, hay bale decor, and weathered barnyard wood. However with green and purple florals thrown into the mix, these are a perfect example of rustic nuptials done the 'Spring' way!

Photography: 1326 Studios
Catering: Be Creative Catering
Floral Design: Inspired Floral Design
Film: Poetic Cinema
Hair: Salon Obsession
Makeup: Brideface