Wicked Bride Stationery

May Wedding Inspiration

2013-05-20T13:23:00.000-04:00

Yeah...I kind of dropped the ball on my monthly wedding inspiration post for May. Because now May is more than half over. Oops. What can I say? It's been a busy, busy, busy month.

Here in New England, May is the first time when, after months of continual, gray overcast, we finally get back our big blue sky. The threat for snow is (mostly) gone, the temperatures start trending up, and the trees erupt in a green display of joy. So appropriately, I've picked a sky-blue palette for the lovely month of May.

The wonderful thing about blue is that it comes in limitless shades, and sky blue can be made fresh and instantly modern by pairing it with royal or navy and crisp white. Or, as in my inspiration board, you can take this color the sweet and rustic route by pairing it with earthier tones, corals and green.

Love the ruffles in this travel-inspired shoot via wedding chicks.
Beautiful coral, blue and green bouquet via revel.
Petit blue macaroons as the perfect wedding favor, via Gourmet Baking.
Sky blue paper straws add a touch of whimsy to your signature cocktails, from the tomkat studio.
Blue cake and bunting garland via Junebug Weddings.
Honour Bandeau Dress from coast is flattering on every maid.
Barn-inspired photo shoot from Style Me Pretty.

See the rest of my blue inspired wedding pins on our Pinterest board.

DIY Wedding Wednesday: Nautical Knot Bridesmaid Bracelets

2013-05-15T11:03:00.000-04:00

Recently, my dear friend Tanya and her husband from Dans Le Townhouse stayed with Mike and I for a few days. The visit was WAY too short, so we're already cooking up our next get together. While they were here, we whipped up a sweet little DIY project for you guys: Nautical Knot bracelets! These adorable bracelets would be the perfect gift for your bridal party if you're having a sea-themed fete, right?

SUPPLIES:
- Cord (two strands approximately 22" long each)
- Two 1" gold ribbon crimp ends (they also come in silver)
- Lobster clasp with tag connector and two jump rings
- Needle nose pliers
- Gel Epoxy (E-6000 glue works too)
- Toothpick & scrap cardboard (to mix the epoxy)
- Scissors
- Tape

Before you get started, open up the crimp ends a bit using your needle nose pliers.

STEP ONE: CUT
Cut your cording into two lengths, 22" each. Tip: wrap tape around the spot to be cut, and cut through the tape so your cording doesn't fray.

STEP TWO: START LOOPING
Fold one length of cord in half. Lay it down so it forms a loop. The 22" cording results in a 6" long bracelet (including the clasp). Use more cord if you have thicker cord or want a longer bracelet. (The pliers are to hold the cord down while I snapped a photo).

Sneak your second length of cord (also folded in half), under the loop.

Loop the bottom cord over and then under the tails of the loop you made. Then wrap it over one half of the loop, then under itself and then over the second half of the loop. It's tricky to explain this, photos explain it better.

Gently pull the knot tight, fiddling with it a bit so it lies flat and is even. Be sure to pull on each side evenly so your knot ends up in the middle, rather than one of the ends.

STEP THREE: TRIM
Measure how long you would like your bracelet (don't forget the clasp adds length). Place tape all the way around the four strands where you want to cut them. Using sharp scissors, cut all four ends after the tape so the tape holds the cord together.

STEP FOUR: EPOXY
The cord unravels quickly, so we immediately added epoxy to the ends. We glued the ends and only a millimeter between each cord to hold them together invisibly. The two-part epoxy was mixed with a toothpick and we used the toothpick to spread on the glue and coax a little between the cords. (I say "we" but I really mean "Tanya's hubby did all the work for me.")

STEP FIVE: STUFF
Place the cord into the opened ribbon crimp and use a toothpick to push it all in. It will try to escape, but the epoxy (which is still pliable) will help hold it together.

STEP SIX: CRIMP
Close the crimp with needle nosed pliers and let dry 24 hours.

STEP SEVEN: ADD FINDINGS
Add a clasp using two small jump rings. Our clasps were provided by the Etsy shop, Antiqued and for someone that buys a lot of jewelery findings, I really loved these because they were great quality and came with both parts (whereas my local shop only sells the lobster clasps and not the ends). Take a peek at the Antiqued shop - it's stocked with great findings and supplies and the seller was wonderful to work with.

If you'd like to make the bracelet adjustable, you can also add some chain which will make it easy to size for any wrist. Otherwise, you're done!

Besides the navy, I also made a gray, white and gold-ish version:

I just love how these knots perfectly mirror my Nautical Knot wedding invitations, and how simple and easy they are to make. And boy, are they cheap. I think the cost breaks down to around $1-2 per bracelet and the supplies can be found in almost any craft shop. A cute idea to add something fun and make each one special for your girls is to attach little initial charms to each bracelet, so each bridesmaid knows which one is hers.

And you can also completely change the look just by switching up the cording. Tanya made some gorgeous bracelets out of colorful silk cord, so definitely go and check hers out on her blog! (Of course she has WAY better photos than I do as well - still trying to figure out how to work my fancy-pants camera.)

What do you guys think? Will you give it a go? These bracelets also perfectly complement any summer outfit!

In Character: An Artistic Surprise for your Guests!

2013-05-13T15:38:00.001-04:00

So you all remember Katie's beautiful honeycomb wedding invitations (just under this post), well Katie's beautiful wedding happened this past weekend, and Mike and I were lucky enough to attend!

Katie and Dave's wedding was chock full of lovely little details from honey mixers used as escort card holders (to complement the little bitty jars of honey at each place setting), lush, beautiful floral arrangements, and a bride with bling. The light rain didn't dampen anyone's spirits, and it stopped long enough for the happy couple to get some great outdoor shots (they even stopped traffic, including a firetruck!).

Besides getting to sit at a table with my beloved sorority sisters for the evening (oh, how I miss you ladies!), our favorite surprise of the night were the character artists!

Now, photobooths are all the rage - we even had one, way back when - but character portraits are something new and different. Mike and I couldn't wait to have one done:

C'est adorable, non?

There were two artists, one who did the marker sketch, and a second who colored it in. The process took under 5 minutes, and we came back later in the evening to pick up the finished, colored portrait. Ok, so it doesn't look exactly like us (since when did I get a bob cut?) but they did a really good job with Mike. Although, he was sporting 3-day stubble and not a gotee. I can imagine all that manly stubble is just impossible to sketch with Sharpie.

When they asked us what color our eyes were, I laughed and said, "Well, he's got one blue and one green!" and the colorist replied, "Yes! Heterochromia! Like David Bowie!" No one ever knows what heterochromia is, unless they have it - so it was super fun to run into someone who did! And then I was a total wet blanket (the cocktails had worn off) and had to break it to him that David Bowie's funky eye is the result of a knife fight... although the way it came out, it sounded as if Mike got into a knife fight. So now y'all know what he does on weekends (and why our renovations are taking so long - those knife fights are serious, yo).

Mike likes the drawing so much, we're going to frame it for his desk at work, ha!

What do you guys think - would you have a character artist at your wedding? Stay tuned, this Wednesday I have a fantastic DIY project for your bridesmaid gifts!

In the Studio: Katie's Honeycomb Invitations

2013-04-12T10:19:00.003-04:00

Katie is not just any friend of mine; she's also my sorority sister. So when she got engaged, I ~~harassed her until she said yes~~ offered my stationery design services. Katie and David have a sweet "meant to be" theme and a yellow and navy color scheme - perfect for honeycomb and flying bees, right? I love how her suite turned out - so much so, that I had my talented friend Amie Fedora snap some shots. Enjoy!

All photos by Amie Fedora Photography, do not use without permission. Calligraphy by Dandelion Calligraphy.

Vendor We Love: Poppy Floral

2013-04-10T18:54:00.001-04:00

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Meghan Perlow from Poppy Floral! Meghan and I met during a recent bridal show and I positively drooled over her work. And may have stalked her table.

Meghan started Poppy Floral based on a love of design and being able to work with her hands. She also practices interior design commercially, but she treasures her time in the studio to be on her own, creating something spectacular for her brides. Meghan says, "Floral design is a crazy amount of work, and is truly a labor of love; but seeing my brides' faces light up when I deliver their bouquets makes it all worth it at the end of the day."

Meghan's business philosophy is sound: When running a business in the wedding industry you always have to remember that this is the first and only time a couple is planning such a big (and likely expensive) event. They've never planned something like this, and shouldn't be expected to know exactly what certain services will cost, how to plan them, and how to coordinate everything. Meghan likes to tell her couples that once you've booked her, they don't have to worry about anything. She makes sure all the little details of their decor are taken care of, with her philosophy being to 'surprise and delight' her clients.

Meghan graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Interior Design, and has worked for Corporate Starbucks in their Design Group, as well as the stadium design firm Populous in Kansas City, where Poppy Floral was born. After moving to Boston with her husband in 2011, Poppy Floral became an instant hit with brides, earning Best of The Knot 2013. Meghan still maintains an active role in the architectural community, acting as the Director of Interior Design at the local firm Arrowstreet.

Where you've seen her work: EA Brides, Kansas City KC Weddings, Kansas City The Knot, Best of Weddings 2013, Boston.

You can contact Meghan via her cell at 617-955-7144 or e-mail her at poppyfloral@gmail.com. More of her gorgeous work can be found on her website, www.poppyfloral.com.

Here at Wicked Bride, we strive to bring you the best and brightest in the wedding field. That means introducing kick-ass vendors for you to use as resources in your planning process. I was not compensated for this post, I simply love this vendor, and I want you to love them, too!

Real Wedding: Lucia & David at the Lars Anderson Auto Museum

2013-04-09T18:25:00.001-04:00

I'm just swooning over these dreamlike images of Lucia & David's wedding. I love all the handmade details and sweet touches. And let's be honest, chevron is bliss - especially when used as runners on the long, family-style tables!

All photos by Evangeline Lane Photography, do not use without permission.

So what's your favorite detail? I love the old windows used as a seating chart and the beautiful banners that criss-cross the reception area!

Thank you, David & Lucia, for sharing your special day!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stationery: Wicked Bride / Photographer: Evangeline Lane Photography / Dress: Vera Wang White Collection for David's Bridal / Flowers: Nelly's Wildflowers / DJ: DJ RMC Productions / Jewelry: Jenna Rose Designs / Catering: Season to Taste / Venue: Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Want to submit your Real Wedding? Check out our Submissions page for details!

In the Studio: Vintage Houston Postcard Save the Date

2013-04-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

I always (always!) wanted to create a design inspired by an old travel postcard, so when Whitney came to me with the idea of creating a save the date in that style I was excited to get started!

The couple provided me a list of all their favorite things that reminded them of Houston, and I worked them into the city's letters and gave the whole piece an overall vintage vibe. Not pictured is the awesome night blue envelopes that the bride stamped with gold ink with the custom stamp I also designed. You'll just have to take my word for how amazing this suite looks all wrapped up with vintage stamps to boot!

DIY Wedding Wednesday: Romantic Wedding Hair

2013-04-03T17:51:00.000-04:00

So a few weeks ago, I brought you some DIY hairstyles. Little did I know, I just saw the tip of the iceburg. I'm thoroughly addicted to hair tutorials. I haven't managed to successfully recreate one yet, of course. My hair is so long and thick most of these are impossible for me to duplicate.

But for the brave DIY bride out there who doesn't need to get their hair thinned regularly (I'm nearing my "just chop it!" point, I swear...) these tutorials would be easy to tackle. Even better - grab your bridesmaids and have a hair night!

Side chignon, Martha Stewart Weddings
Braided bun, ModCloth
Halo braid, Wedding Chicks
Back bun bouffant, Bobby Glam
Top knot, Martha Stewart Weddings
Twist & flip bun, The Beauty Department
Big booty bouffant, Bobby Glam
Fishtail bun, Hair Romance
The half and half, Martha Stewart Weddings

Which one are you going to try? I'm totally going to attempt the big booty bouffant (8) for an upcoming wedding! It will go perfectly with the adorable French Connection dress I just bought - a little mod, a little retro.

Real Wedding: Jessica & Stan at Willowdale Estate

2013-04-02T18:50:00.005-04:00

I have something very special for you guys today. Somehow, I talked my little sister into sharing her wedding with us! Her invites were one of the first suites I ever did, and helped launch Wicked Bride.

Jess and Stan had an amazingly beautiful garden wedding. But beyond the delightful details, we can all learn a lesson from them. The pair were incredibly smart with their budget and spent it in all the right places. In the end, the couple had a gorgeous day that didn't cost them their first born child (which is a very lucky thing for my lovely little niece, Lana!). She shares some of her fantastic tips with us today (take notes!):

From the bride, "When I started looking for wedding venues, I started by doing a simple Google search of places in the North Shore area, where I lived at the time. Willowdale's site was the first one I came upon and I immediately fell in love with the beautiful stone estate. I called that day and set up an appointment. From the moment we drove up, I knew it was the perfect place for my wedding. The owner, Briar Rose Forsythe, was very friendly and accommodating to our tight budget. She worked with us every step of the way to make sure we could make it work.

Examples of how we saved money on the venue: had the wedding on a Friday, chose simple (but delicious) fish and chicken dishes as meal choices, didn't upgrade the chairs.

The venue also included the cake and candy buffet, which were money-savers. Willowdale's outdoor wedding receptions are held under a beautiful Sperry Tent, and I knew that uplighting would be a beautiful addition. Boston Uplighting came highly recommended, and their prices were reasonable. They did a great job of changing the lighting to match the mood & music throughout the night.

Prior to the wedding, I attended a bridal fair at Willowdale, and that's where I met DJ Greg Gates Plowman. After talking with him for a couple minutes, I knew he would be perfect. He has a warm, friendly personality and you can tell that he truly enjoys what he does - it's not simply a job for him. During our pre-wedding meetings, he took the time to learn every detail of our wedding and actually became sort of a wedding coordinator on the day-of. His music was spot-on... we were on the dance floor the entire night. He didn't play any "duds" at all. He also did our ceremony music. For my walk down the aisle, we wanted Bach's Air on the G String.... but couldn't find the right version. Greg actually used a version that he had composed himself - it was perfect. He charges one flat fee for the night, regardless of time... and that fee also included the ceremony music! Hard to find a better deal.

Flowers were a last-minute thing for me. For months, I was working with my florist aunt who was going to do them as a wedding gift. At almost the last minute, she had to back out due to personal circumstances. So I had to find someone who wasn't already booked and someone who could work with a tight budget (it was late in my planning and I hadn't counted on paying for flowers). Donna at Pepperberry's was absolutely amazing! The flowers could not have been more perfect. And she didn't flinch at my budget at all - she worked with it. As a plus, the ceremony took place in front of the gardens at Willowdale, so I didn't have to pay for ceremony flowers.

The photographer was someone I worked with - at the time, he did photography part-time... now he's full-time. We were very happy with our choice. He was easy to work with and was right in the middle of the action all night.

The cake vendor was already chosen and included in the Willowdale cost, but if I had the choice, I would've chosen Konditor Meister myself. We gave them a copy of our invitation and had to put our faith in them that they would create something beautiful... we didn't get any mock-ups at ALL. We loved the result - it was exactly what I wanted. And tasted great!!

The officiant was hard to find because I needed someone who could do the ceremony in English and Russian. Linda had a Russian friend who she brought with her & they took turns with the ceremony. It was perfect.

I chose my colors, blush pink and champagne, because I wanted a soft, romantic feel that I thought matched Willowdale. We had small touches here and there to bring in some Russian aspects - the khokhloma on the invitations and cake, the birds on the cake, invitations, birdcage as card holder ("Snigir" = "bullfinch"), ceremony translated in Russian, table number holders, etc."

All photos by Jeff Newcum, do not use without permission.

For the programs, Jessica ordered pre-cut paper from Cherish Paperie and then she designed, printed, and assembled them herself. The backs aren't pictured, but she glued on decorative paper from Paper Source.

The favors were monogramed match boxes from theknot.com. Each place-setting also had a lit votive. The centerpieces included astilbe, snapdragons, carnations, roses, and hydrangeas. Jessica wanted a romantic garden feel, which is enhanced by the old stone pots the flowers are in. The couple made the table numbers themselves - Stan purchased the Russian figurines in Ukraine and they drilled holes in the tops for the clips.

Jessica printed the escort cards herself using Avery business card paper that was pre-punched (time saver!) - she got the idea for the holders from Martha Stewart Weddings and bought the paper for the holders from Paper Source.

The couple gave a copy of the invitation to Konditor Meister which they used to design the cake - it's a traditional Russian khokhloma design, with birds (Their last name, 'Snigir' means 'bullfinch' in Russian, hence the bird motif).

For their guest book, Jess purchased an old Polaroid camera on eBay for $30 and10-pack of film from Amazon for $150. (A side note - it's going for $594 now! ) She purchased the book from Adesso Albums which It had slots for the polaroids.

Ok, so I'm probably super-biased, but Jessica's the most beautiful bride ever, right? Stunning. When people tell me they can't afford to get married, I point them in Jessica's direction. It IS possible to have a day that is uniquely you without having to rob a bank.

So what's your favorite detail?

Bride's Dress: Essence of Australia, purchased at Bella Sera Bridal / Bride's Shoes: "Diaz" by Benjamin Adams, purchased at Shoes to Dye For / Bride's Earrings: Amazon / Hairpiece: Powder Blue Bijoux / Bridesmaid Dresses: After Six / Hair: Renee Britt / Makeup: Ligia Centeno / Tuxedos: Men's Warehouse / Venue: Willowdale Estate / Uplighting: Boston Uplights / DJ: DJ Greg Gates Plowman / Cake: Konditor Meister / Flowers: Pepperberry's Flowers / Officiant: Linda Brown / Photographer: Jeff Newcum

Want to submit your Real Wedding? Check out our Submissions page for details!

April Wedding Inspiration

2013-04-01T18:52:00.003-04:00

There's something incredibly hopeful about the color yellow - which is why I think it's the perfect color for an April wedding. April is a month of hope - the snow is melting, spring is coming, flowers are beginning to bloom - there's a sense of rebirth and renewal in the air. Plus, yellow pairs so well with a multitude of complementary colors: aqua, gray, purple, black, green...just about any shade in the right hue can stand next to yellow and keep a happy company.

Lemons used as escort card holders.
Yellow bridesmaid dresses.
Billy button boutonnieres.
Yellow shoes, yellow socks.
A mod yellow wedding cake.
French wire earrings with yellow calcedony.
Delightful yellow straw clutch.

See the all of the April wedding inspiration goodness on our Pinterest board!

Happy Weekend

2013-03-29T10:40:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, Wicked Bride was on Style Me Pretty Massachusetts this week, yay!!

Oh So Beautiful Paper is featuring truly adorable stationery from Bears Eat Berries today. Love the modern illustrations and simple, modern letterpress.

Love these Organic Tablescape ideas from the Ruffled blog, especially since Mike and I were looking at greenhouses to buy last night. Yes, you heard that right.

I wish I could've done a colored wedding dress, like the one featured in this Blush Wedding from Grey Likes Weddings today. However, no one would let me buy a black wedding dress. Probably for the best, right?

Perfectly timed Easter Brunch Entertaining Ideas from 100 Layer Cake. I'm not hosting, but I am showing up with some goodies!

Wicked Bride on Style Me Pretty

2013-03-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

So excited that Morgan's beautiful wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty, and her Boston Skyline programs were included!

Click here to see the story.

DIY Wedding Wednesday: Mr. & Mrs. Reserved Seat Signs

2013-03-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have a really quick and easy project for you - reserved seat signs for the new Mr. & Mrs.! These great little bunting flags can be tied onto the tops of most any chair, and add a little touch of whimsy to your special day.

I've created the chevron design in 3 colors: yellow, teal and coral:

SUPPLIES:
- 5 sheets of white card stock
- 2 yards of ribbon
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Optional: Xacto knife & straight edge

STEP ONE: PRINT
First, print file in your color choice (all colors are in one file, make sure to specify a print range in the print dialogue box, or all the colors will print). Print 2 M's and 2 R's. TIP: Make sure your settings are on "actual size" so the little flags don't print as huge flags.

STEP TWO: CUT
Cut out each flag by trimming just inside the dotted line on the edge of the file. You can use either a pair of scissors, or for a more accurate cut, use a straight edge and Xacto knife.

STEP THREE: PUNCH
Using a single-hole punch, punch both top corners of each bunting flag.

STEP FOUR: STRING
Cut the 2 yard length of ribbon in half. Then, take each half, and fold it in half, creasing the ribbon at the center. Take your first letter and center it to the left of the middle crease. I like to loop the ribbon around again through the hole so the flags don't move on ribbon. Repeat with the next letter on the right side of the crease - this way your MR will be perfectly centered. For the MRS, center the R over the middle crease, loop ribbon through top holes, then string the M and S on each side so your banner will be centered. Continue stringing the flags until the banners are assembled - looking something like this:

STEP FIVE: HANG
Tie the ends of the ribbon to the tops of your chairs, and you're done!

Real Wedding: Rachana & Shiv's Bangalore Wedding

2013-03-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

I've been fortunate enough to do a few Indian wedding invitations, and with each one I'm a smidge jealous that stationers aren't invited! The weddings last three days and have multiple events, each one more fun than the last. There's henna painting, amazing food, Bollywood dancers - who wouldn't want to attend, right?

Rachana & Shiv's wedding in Bangalore, India, was filled to the brim with saturated jewel tones and smiling, dancing guests. From the bride, "Although we now live in the US, our wedding was held in India, the country where we both spent our younger days. We wanted to break all the rules of having a traditional Indian wedding and decided to go with a Rustic Bird theme with Fuchsia Pink, Gold and Ivory as the color palette. We insisted on using real flowers, real branches and real bird cages everywhere, but we did not have the heart to use real birds."

All photos by Praveen Vijayan, do not use without permission.

Wedding invites by Wicked Bride, distressed for their wedding album by ShabbyScrap.
The couple hand addressed all the invites with a calligraphy pen and secured them with Pink ribbons before mailing them out.

The bride’s hands and feet are decorated with an elaborate Henna Tattoo.
It is said that the deeper the color of Henna, the stronger the relationship between the new husband and wife.

Entrance decorated with branches, roses and lanterns. Pink focus lights add plenty of drama.
Closer look shows the Rose balls, clear glass lanterns and strings of glass beads.

Custom-made sterling silver cufflinks for the Groom. The numbers hand embossed on the cufflinks are the
Latitude/Longitude of the City where the couple first met, 12 years ago.

The newlywed couple enjoys a dance while guests cheer on. Dancing is a big part of any Indian wedding celebration.
Everyone MUST dance!

The bride and her bridesmaids all clad in colorful saris, perform to a popular Bollywood number. Indian weddings are all about color!

Wedding album custom-made by ShabbyScrap.

A page from the wedding album shows a little envelope where the couple can save all the birds and wishes from their big day!

Stationery: Wicked Bride Stationery / Custom-made cufflinks: Etsy / Wedding album: ShabbyScrap / Bride Shoes: kate spade / Groom’s Tux: Hugo Boss / Bride’s Sari & Bridesmaid’s Saris: Hand-made from boutiques in Bangalore, India / Venue: The Lalit / Flowers, Lights, Birds: Local vendors in Bangalore, India / Photography: Praveen Vijayan

Want to submit your Real Wedding? Check out our Submissions page for details!

Color Me Monday: Navy & Orange

2013-03-25T09:42:00.002-04:00

{ photo by Milou + Olin Photography }

Happy Weekend

2013-03-22T09:47:00.002-04:00

{ photo by Theo Milo, via Ruffled }

This week, it seems everyone has spring on the brain ( Well, at least if you're up here in the Northeast where it snowed again yesterday. That groundhog lied to us. )

Delightful Flower & Herb wedding ideas from the Ruffled blog.

Dolly Easter card round up from Oh So Beautiful Paper.

Drooling over this Industrial Romance inspired photo shoot featured on Style Me Pretty. ( Also loving their new site design! )

And on a personal note, Mike and I are planning to put a huge-ass vegetable garden in our back yard this spring. Hopefully. The snow does have to melt first, after all. It seems that everything you'd ever need to learn about gardening, you can learn on YouTube. Currently, we're researching how to protect our crop from critters ( we have deer, raccoons, opossums, skunks, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, fishercats, hawks, turkeys and wild birds ). If we're lucky, we'll manage to keep some of the food to ourselves!

DIY Wedding Wednesday: Unique Venue Ideas

2013-03-20T13:03:00.001-04:00

Some couples like to make the whole wedding process really easy on themselves and go with a traditional wedding venue that provides all sorts of packages. The biggest decision is choosing from column A, B, or C of their exclusive vendors. I wish I could've been one of those brides.

But, I wasn't. And many of you out there aren't either. We want to stay up until 2 am DIY'ing our wedding programs. We want to run to five craft stores in one day to find the right ribbon to tie our favors together. We're type-A gluttons for punishment.

This post is for you.

There are many venues out there that are not only unique, but many let you bring in everything from your own caterer to your own alcohol and bar set up. This kind of deal is a bit more stressful for the couple (can you say "Options up the wazoo?") but you can also save a huge chunk of money by saving on venue fees and vendors AND have a wedding that's distinctly you.

{ photo by Kris Allen Photography }

PUBLIC PARKS
A little known fact: you can rent public spaces. Typically, for only a few hundred dollars, if that. Every town in the US has some sort of green space and the majority can be rented for a pittance. Check with your local town hall, who may send you in the direction of the parks and recreation department.

{ photo by Gabriel Boone }

AQUARIUMS
Most major metro areas have a city aquarium, and every one I can list off of the top of my head has rentals available for weddings. Some have exclusive contracts with vendors - but not all. In spaces such as aquariums you can save major money since the scenery is so spectacular (say that three times fast). It also opens the door to all sorts of adorable invitations, like my Only Fish invite.

{ photo by Persimmon Images }

LIBRARIES
Along with public spaces, public buildings are also available for rent. And since many aren't typically used for weddings, they allow you to bring in your own vendors and DIY elements. Stacked books with cheery floral arrangements as centerpieces? Yes, please!

{ wedding via the Polka Dot Bride, photo by Happy Confetti Photography }

ART GALLERIES & STUDIO SPACES
Art galleries and studio spaces are literally blank canvases (there was no avoiding that pun). You could DIY fabric drapes to hang from industrial beams, or let the art speak for itself and keep your tablescapes minimal. (PS, minmal = more money in your pocket)

{ wedding via Intimate Weddings, photo by Sarah Kathleen }

BORROW A YARD
Back yard weddings are the Holy Grail of DIY weddings. Had Mike and I bought our house before tying the knot, I absolutely would've thrown a killer at-home shindig. Chances are, several people you know (or are related to) own a home, and of those people, at least one of them has a nice back yard, right?

Real Wedding: Amanda & Brian's Yellow & Gray Oxford Wedding

2013-03-19T12:22:00.001-04:00

Brian and Amanda were married last May at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oxford, Ohio. The couple lives in Cincinnati but chose Oxford because they met at Miami University and absolutely LOVE the campus.

Amanda and her sister and did as much DIY as they could including all of the bouquets, boutineers, table arrangements, homemade pin wheels and candy bar. Instead of a guest book, the couple asked everyone to sign a quilt square from different yellow and grey fabric. The yellow candy bar was a huge hit with the kids!

All photographs by Kim Long Photography, do not use without permission.

Amanda's dad used chevron fabric to cover the couple's initials. Amanda and Brian took the letters all over Oxford.

For wedding favors, the couple gave every guest a succulent to take home.

How can you not love yellow and gray, right? I've used the color combo in my living room (with chevron too, no less!). So what's your favorite part? I'm in love with the baby succulents - if I could keep them alive, my whole house would be one huge succulent garden.

Stationery: Wicked Bride Stationery / Photographer: Kim Long / Bride's dress: Enzoni / Bridesmaid dresses: J. Crew / Church: St Mary's Catholic Church / Reception: Holiday Inn / Cake: Bonbonerie / Program, seating chart and other graphics: Lynsey Penny

Want to submit your Real Wedding? Check out our Submissions page for details!

Color Me Monday: Blush, Peach and Orange

2013-03-18T10:23:00.003-04:00

{ photo by Found Creative Studio, flowers by Cherry Blossom Floral Design }

Reading the weather report today (Possible 10 inches of snow. Awesome.) I'm very much in the mood for spring. I love the sorbet colors of this arrangement mixed with whites, greens and grays, perfect for any spring or summer wedding.

In the Studio: Map of Marblehead Save the Dates

2013-03-14T10:29:00.002-04:00

Kate's custom save the dates just came into the studio today, and before packing them up, I snapped a few photos. The card features a custom map of Marblehead and a marker where the couple will be married this fall. I particularly love the textured felt paper - it makes the piece look almost like a watercolor.

Vendor We Love: Whim Events

2013-03-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today I want to introduce you all to a vendor I love: Whim Events.

Moira and Natalie started Whim in 2011. Moira did the floral design for Natalie's wedding, and she feel in love with Moira's beautiful work and her inspiring energy. They co-founded Whim shortly after, when they realized they both had a mutual passion for making peoples dreams come true. The pair loves being behind the scenes creating magical moments. They did a few weddings together to start, and the rest is history!

MOIRA has a background in art & stage production. She has 10 years experience in floral design, working in several floral shops throughout Boston. She loves day dreaming and aesthetics. NATALIE has an event planning and marketing background, working as the event & brand manager for a large beverage brand in Boston for five years. She has a deep love for Excel spreadsheets and timelines. The team is pretty much each other's better halves (shh, don't tell Natalie's husband!), which makes their work much more fun.

Whim Events takes a very personal approach when they work with clients. Their number one philosophy is to get to know exactly who their couples are and what they love, so their personalities shine on the wedding day. Rather than just putting pretty flowers on a table, they create an experience and an ambiance. That is the heart of Their work. True success for them is not a beautiful table, but the look in the couples' eyes when they see how truly special and unique their wedding day is.

Whim offers several different services - Planning, Floral Design & Styling - and each is founded on making the couple's planning process a personal, relaxed and celebratory experience. Moira and Natalie believe the journey should be as good as the destination, so planning a wedding should be as dreamy and fun as the day itself.

You may have seen Whim Events before, as they have been featured on Style Me Pretty, Style Me Pretty MA & Style Me Pretty Little Black Book, as well as Well Wed, Junebug Weddings, Offbeat Bride, Beantown Bride, Boston Magazine, and the Improper Bostonian. Moira also did the floral design for the filmed-in-Boston movie, What's Your Number? with Anna Ferris.

To contact Whim Events, visit their site for more info where you can fill out the contact form. You can also call the studio at 617-413-9735 or send an email to natalie@whimevents.com. They will be happy to hear from you! Follow Whim Events:

Real Wedding: Kara & Kevin at The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

2013-03-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

Remember last week when I showed you Kara's wedding invitations, and promised more? Today, I deliver.

I don't even know where to start, this wedding is so gorgeous. Kara and Kevin were married at the Texas State History Museum in front of the enormous star - a dramatic backdrop if I ever saw one! Their wedding was filled to the brim with personal touches and sentiment. Good friends of theirs who run a local newspaper created one of the most unique wedding programs I've ever seen. Basically, the couple had their own paper made. How cool is that?

Photos by Alisa Marrow Photography, do not use without permission.

The wedding cake had the lyrics to Robert Earl Keen's "Gringo Honeymoon" written on it

Kevin's groom's cake was made up of Texas Ranger and baseball cake balls

Stationery & Memorial Candles: Wicked Bride Stationery / Calligraphy: Dandelion Calligraphy / Photography: Alisa Marrow Photography / Venue: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum / Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Mariachi Jalisco / Reception Music: DJ Jeff Hudson / Florist: The Flower Bucket / Wedding Cake: Wildflour Cakery / Groom's Cake: Austin Cake Ball / Catering: Rosemary's Catering / Bride's Dress: Saison Blanche from Blush Bridal Lounge / Bride's Shoes: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew / Groom's Suit: Hickey Freeman from Capra and Cavelli / Groomsmen Suits: Brooks Brothers

Want to submit your Real Wedding? Check out our Submissions page for details!

Color Me Monday: Citrus & Pink

2013-03-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

{ image via }

Nothing makes me think of spring like bold, fresh palettes. Especially after we had another few feet of snow dumped on us last week. I particularly love this image from Martha Stewart weddings. It's modern and vibrant.

The trick to a palette like this is to pair the bolder, citrus and magenta colors with sheer, blush colors and white. All-pink arrangements would look amazing on tables draped in white linens (or left bare, if they are nice enough). Put your bridesmaids in various shades of pink - stick to the same family, but in different saturations. Carry a bouquet of citrus-colored blooms tied with pink ribbon. For a modern look, follow the tutorial on Martha Stewart to create your own Mondrian-ish window decals.

Happy Weekend

2013-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

So this investigative article from Food Babe has been circulating facebook lately, and it kind of scares the crap out of me. I knew bad stuff was in our food, but I didn't know how bad. I have a crazy amount of allergies and four (yes, 4!) chronic conditions. And I'm 32. When I was six, I basically lived off of lettuce and cucumbers. I think that needs to happen again.

I just bought my first Emma Fox bag and looooove it. Welcome to the family, Emma, you can bring your black-leather-and-brass-hardware-hotness to the party anytime.

Straight men be afraid. Be very afraid.

...and it's snowing...again. Have I mentioned how grateful I am that I now commute to our dining room?

Yes, I'm totally going to see the Hangover Part III, because that's right where my intelligence level is hovering nowadays. How 'bout you?

I'm leaving this weekend with Mike for a few days in NYC - I hope you guys have a great weekend!

In the Studio: Kara's Navy & Mint Wedding Invitations

2013-03-07T12:13:00.002-05:00

Kara is an old college friend of mine (I probably shouldn't say old, since she's not. And, she's younger than me. Let's just say, we've known each other awhile.), so I was delighted to create custom invitations for her and Kevin.

They were looking for a clean, sophisticated look incorporating their colors of navy and mint. And we all know how much I love mint. They also wanted to incorporate a scallop design, and I think I delivered with this sleek, graphic version. We tied everything together with a navy & white stripe, which really gives the whole set a preppy, nautical look.

Their wedding was gorgeous, and I was even able to create some custom signage and memorial candles for their big day. I've talked Kara into featuring some photos from the affair in my "real wedding" weekly posts, so there will be more details to come!

Photos by Amie Fedora Photography, do not use without permission. Calligraphy by the talented Alyssa at Dandelion Calligraphy.