It’s the first weekend of summer and that means warm nights, the good company of friends and family, and dining al fresco!  This weekend’s weather forecast is looking great – it’s the perfect excuse to gather friends and throw an impromptu Memorial Day barbecue!  There is no need to stress about last minute planning because we’ve got you covered on the ask, the scene, the games, the food and the drinks.

First things first, send out a virtual invite with Red Stamp invitations.  Friends won’t be able to resist attending your last-minute party when these adorable invites pop up on their phones.  As for the décor, keep it simple!  Throw white cotton linen on a table and round up some mason jars for flower arrangements, hanging lanterns and even glasses!  Keep your guests busy with games such as croquet, bocce ball and corn hole.  Or if your looking to get creative, turn your lawn into a huge Twister game!  For the food and drink, grill season is upon us – get inspired with some of summer’s best cookbooks. Hit the Kingfield Farmers Market for fresh ingredients {it makes all the difference}! If the forcast is anywhere near as warm as reported, you better plan on providing lots of liquids.  Make it easy for them to help themselves to drinks by setting up a beverage station.  And for grand finale, cap off the night with gourmet s’mores for dessert!

Last, but not least, remember to relax and enjoy the kick off to summer in the company of good friends and family!

Style-Architects was recently featured in the June issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine!  Beginning in July we will be partnering with Minnesota Monthly to produce a monthly makeover spread.  Christina {the producer} and Faith {the stylist} are excited to team up with Katie Dohman {Style Editor with Minnesota Monthly Magazine} on each makeover candidate.  Pick up this month’s edition of Minnesota Monthly for more information, and be sure to grab a copy in July to see our first makeover spread!

Lacing Up.

Elegant, romantic, charming and sophisticated.  No ladies, I’m not referring to Mr. Clooney – I’m talking about this season’s hottest trend, LACE!  Lace is back and more glamorous than ever. Forget about its confines to wedding dresses and grandmother’s tea gloves because this open-work fabric has transformed into a modern, and dare I say sexy, trend that is taking over all aspects of style!  Decorate your home with unique lace accents, from table settings to light bulbs {seriously, how chic are these?}.  For the party planner struggling to find that finishing décor detail, add an accent of crochet to your table with a modernized doily or embellished dishes. For those in need of a creative release, use a stencil and spray paint light bulbs to make them appear as if they have been draped with lace. If arts and crafts aren’t your forte, update your wardrobe with a great lace skirt, shorts, shoes, romper or even cape. This light, elegant and sexy fabric is perfect for the warm summer months.  And for the bride who dreams of white lace in her sleep, go beyond the stunning dress by adding delicate chantilly trim to your bouquet or wrapping cupcakes in a sleeve of lace for a cute dessert decoration. This traditional fabric has transformed into a modern, yet still classically romantic, trend that we absolutely love this season!

Recently Style-Architects was asked to present tips on how to brand your wedding on the Fox 9 morning show.  In case you missed it, here is the must-have info…

Branding your wedding means making it unique to you and your story as a couple.  Your wedding should have a cohesive look across all platforms from the invitation to the fashion to the décor! Here are some ways to brand your wedding:

The Invitations

Set the stage by giving guests a glimpse of the look and feel of the wedding with the invitations.  Incorporate design elements from your decor and let your guests know that your wedding will be no ordinary wedding!  Paper, Rock, Scissor located in Minneapolis is a great choice for beautiful custom wedding invitations.

The Fashion

Have fun with the fashion and be sure to add personality to your look – after all, it is your day! Instead of bouquets, give your bridesmaids custom clutches by Nelle to carry down the aisle.  And at the reception, change up your look with a statement necklace like the one we featured from l’atelier couture – there is no need for a second cocktail dress!

The Décor

Make a statement without spending a fortune with a customized dance floor vinyl from Holo-Walls.  Incorporate your monogram, wedding color or motif, or any image for a eye-catching focal point at your reception.

Linens, such as the those from Linen Effects, are a great way to add texture and personality to a room. Keep people’s attention by varying the look of each table.

Pick a patterned, glittered or solid color aisle runner to match your theme.  You can even customize the runner with hand painted monograms, designs or even crystals with The Original Runner Co.

Take time to discover your brand as a couple and infuse it throughout your wedding.  Your wedding should be a true reflection of you! If you are struggling with any aspect of the process, get some help – Planners and stylists have all the connections with unique vendors to bring your vision to life.

For inspiration and more ideas on how to brand your wedding, check out our boards on Pinterest!

Meet Eliesa Johnson.  Eliesa is a local photographer and the owner of not one, but four different photography businesses in Minneapolis.  Her businesses include wedding photography companies, Photogen Inc. and Rivets and Roses; commercial photography company, ELIESA; and photography consulting company LOVEe Consults.  When does this inspiring {and lovely} lady sleep!?  We had the same question, so we caught up with Eliesa to discuss how she got her drive, where she gets inspiration and what she does with her free time {the little that she has, that is!}.

Who are your favorite photographers (fashion or otherwise)?

Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Ellen Von Unwerth are some of my all-time favorites and all of these photographers have been very influential to my industry.

Where do you turn for inspiration?

As much as I love the Internet and blogs, sometimes I feel very overwhelmed searching online for inspiration. I always prefer grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting in a bookstore that has a great selection of editorials. I will just sit and page through magazines until I find about 5 that I think I’m most inspired by. I usually bring them into the studio and create a wall-of-inspiration from tears I’ve selected. I love editorials from different countries – they take more risk with their imagery. I also love looking back in history to iconic images and thinking about the photographers’ process and how they created that image. Was it thought out and produced or were they simply in the right place at the right time?

How would you describe your personality in 5 words?

Thoughtful, Authentic, Passionate, Nerdy and Driven

How do you spend your Saturdays?

50% of the time, I’m probably photographing a wedding on a Saturday. Whenever I do have a weekend free, they are almost sacred to me and I try to make the most of them! Ideally, that would include sleeping in, going on an adventure, eating some good food and sharing it with those close to me.

What adds pep to your step?

I’m a big believer in momentum, in life, business and art. I’m the type of person who will put myself out there and work very hard to make my ideas happen and come to life. I love to experience things and share them with the world. I also love taking risks – it moves you forward.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

I really have the best job in the word. My goal day in and day out is to inspire people, whether that be a bride looking at her wedding photos or a reader looking in the pages of a magazine. This is a great honor and something I am so grateful for. I also absolutely love and adore my crew – they make work so much fun!

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?

The 112 Eatery is my favorite restaurant, hands down. I’m also a fan of the new Urban Bean coffee shop on Lyndale and 24th – it’s a little creative hub with an amazing atmosphere to chill or work out of.

Country Club Couture

Keep things preppy and classic with clean lines and classic designs.

Dress – Diane von Furstenberg

Shoes – Elizabeth and James

The Great Outdoors

Strike the right balance with feeling comfortable in the outdoors (flat shoes) and still being dressed up for a wedding.

Shoes – Dolce Vita

Dress – BHLDN

Modern City Chic

Feel free to go glam for a modern city wedding. Killer heels can accessorize a great dress without taking away the attention of the bride.

Dress – ZARA

Clutch – Kara Ross NY

Romantic Vineyard

Think romance and soft colors. An intimate event for family and friends to enjoy vino and the outdoors.

Dress – BHLDN

Purse – Etsy

Shoes – Dorothy Perkins

For more suggestions of what to wear to a spring wedding, follow us on Pinterest!

Attention Ladies and Gentlemen:  The most exciting two minutes in sports is quickly approaching!  That’s right, the Kentucky Derby is only a few short weeks away and we must admit, this is one sporting event that is oh-so-chic.  For those not attending, there is no need to get discouraged.  Grab your fabulously large hats and derby attire because Style-Architects has come up with tips for hosting the perfect Kentucky Derby soirée.

{ATTIRE}

Have your guests come dressed to the nines.  Set the stage with a beautiful dress {we love the yellow Monique Lhuillier dress shown above}, clutch and striped hat and have your guy in a classic, khaki cotton suit and plaid bow tie.

{À LA CARTE}

You can’t go wrong with Watercress Canapés and mint julep cupcakes!

And if the cupcakes don’t quite do the trick, imbibe you must. We all know that you can’t have a Derby party without Mint Juleps.  Create a beautiful, self-service bar of interesting bottles and garnish displays.

{DÉCOR}

Roses, roses, roses.  Create a show-stopping centerpiece, table runner or accent piece by simply affixing roses and greenery to a piece of felt.

Numbered silks can be made by visiting your local sporting goods store and heat transferring athletic numbers onto satin napkins.

The invitation, drink and menu cards, and additional printouts by Kayd Design are available here:

{Invitation}  {Menu}  {Menu Cards}  {Stir Sticks}  {Cupcake Tops}

And finally, to really capture the Kentucky Derby essence, create a walk-up betting window so your guests can place wagers and project the race onto a large white wall for easy viewing. This will certainly place you in the winner’s circle!

A special thank you to Jack Strawn for the lovely photos!

Tribal takeover.

Okay, I’m just going to say it… Tribal prints just may be the new stripes this season. Now don’t throw out your nautical looks all together. That would be bananas! Just give these bold, unique prints a try for the perfect way to make a statement that won’t go unnoticed.  To begin this exotic transformation, replace that worn down leather lounger with a fun and flirty tribal printed chair.  The piece will stand out and add the perfect amount of character to spice up your space.  If you’re planning a party, incorporate a ikat tablecloth, chair covers or dishes to add some fun to the décor.  For brides who are jetting off for a destination wedding or are just wanting to add a little sass to their look on that special day, this pattern is the perfect solution.  Wear a pair of printed pumps, or dazzle your guests with some beautiful Aztec inspired earrings.  As for those just looking to add some excitement to their style, try a printed skirt, nails, or even freshen up your iPhone case with a tribal shell.  This amazing collaboration of zigzags, dots, and shapes are key for a stylish spring!

Can you imagine a world without social media? Without Twitter, without Facebook and dare I say it, without Pinterest? {Gasp!}  Well, if you remember back about ten years ago, this unimaginable world indeed existed.  Today, however, the average person is constantly surrounded and consumed with social media.  As both a brand and an individual, there is no way of avoiding it.  Social media can be intimidating, but when used strategically, it is a wonderful branding tool for companies as well as people {after all, you are your own brand}! So instead of shying away from the social media world, embrace it!  Here are a few pointers on how to best utilize Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest for you and your brand…

{Twitter}

The platform for sharing, networking and conversing in 140 character or less.

DO…

Create a memorable profile.

Tweet 2-5 times each day.

Be conversational and engaging, it shouldn’t solely be a megaphone.

Utilize direct messaging for anything personal.

Use the voice of your brand (whether yourself or company). And be authentic.

DON’T…

Use too many acronyms.

Use overly-long, strange or unnecessary hash tags.

Be negative or offensive.

{Pinterest}

Pinterest, the latest social media craze, is a virtual pin board, or scrapbook, to collect and organize your favorite images and ideas from around the Web. It is a network for you and your brand to showcase your style, spark creativity, inspire and be inspired. This is my new favorite addiction.

DO…

Selectively curate. Make sure pins support your brand image.

Connect with your online presence. Pin images on your website, blog or portfolio site to increase traffic for you and/or your brand.

Link to the original sources for pins.

DON’T

Make your boards too personal.

Pin anything R-rated or inappropriate {Captain Obvious but worth mentioning}.

{Facebook}

A place to spotlight your work and share newsworthy information.

DO…

Spend time creating a thoughtful profile page.

Keep any personal parts of your profile private through settings.

Share useful articles and links to presentation and valuable resources that interest customers and prospects on your wall, to establish credibility.

Post at least 2 times each week and be responsive.

Post between 4pm – 9pm during the week and on the weekends for highest visibility.

Be relevant. And again, be authentic.

DON’T…

Be negative.

Post too often.

Confuse Facebook with Twitter. Facebook status is for posting interesting articles, funny photos, or life changing events. No one needs to know that you just ate a hamburger and fries or grabbed your second coffee for the day.

Remember — You are what you tweet (and post and pin)! So make sure your content supports your brand image. We look forward to engaging with you on Twitter and Facebook…as well as sharing inspiration on Pinterest!

How do you utilize social media as a branding tool for you and/or your brand?