Hello lovelies! Hope you’re having a fab afternoon. As you read this, I’ll almost be at the end of my month off, and heading to SA – can’t wait, as always! So, since travel is the order of the day for me, I thought it was time to touch on travel-themed weddings again. The great thing about this theme is that it really doesn’t have to be a single look or style – it can really be incorporated into any wedding style or venue. To prove my point, I’ve put together three lovely palettes using three of my favourite travel-themed invitation suites. The looks are very different, from vintage to contemporary elegance to bright, fun pops of colour. Which is your favourite?
Category: Inspiration Boards
Inspiration Board: Mint & Lilac
There’s just something about purple palettes that I love, don’t you think? They really are just so pretty. And today’s is no exception. Lilac, lavender and mint make a great combination on their own, but when you add a bit of grey and a touch of silver sparkle, as well as a little dash of vintage, it’s just made for a wedding day. The cheese cake you may recognise from our roundup last week – I absolutely adore this one – but I also love the jumble of hanging bird cages, the mix and match bridesmaids, and the bride’s hair and gorgeous grey dress. I can just imagine how this would look in real life. The other great thing about this palette is that it’s so versatile – I could imagine this for spring, summer… and with a few tiny tweaks, autumn and winter too. What do you think?
Colour: Mint, lavender, lilac, grey & silver
Top row (l-r): Bridesmaid bouquet {Elisa B Photography/Amore Events by Cody/Sugar Magnolias}; lavender boutonniere {KT Merry/Sara Jean Events}; cheese wedding cake {Aaron Delesie/Laura Gresham Events/}; lace dress {Oh, How Charming/Braedon Photography}; bicycle
Row 2: Bride in grey dress {Joielala Photographie}; cocktail {Tim Halberg}; silver glitter shoes {Paperwhites Photography}; flowers in vase; hanging birdcages
Row 3: Bride & bridesmaids {Pam Cooley Photography}; place setting {Elisa B.}; lavender letterpress {Satsuma Press}; macaroons.
Colour Story: Toile & Rose
Hey lovelies! Following my feature of the Toile & Rose shoot this morning, I wanted to take another look at the Toile & Rose suite created for us by The Invitation Gallery. Canvas Stationery Boutique did a brilliant job in interpreting the inspiration board that started it all…
Full inspiration board credits here
I might have mentioned this before, but I LOVE it! And along with the suggestions I gave earlier for recreating the French country look at your own wedding, I’ve put together some pretty toile items to inspire. Now, obviously, you are not going to use EVERYTHING toile in a wedding design – as with all prints, less is definitely more! But there are some really pretty touches, from bridesmaid gifts to fabric (with a South African twist, nogal) and even a to-die-for Claire Pettibone toile de jouy wedding dress. Dying over that one!
Inspiration Board: Modern Romantic
Another Monday, another inspiration board, and I have to say, I am more than a little in love with this one. I’ve had a lot of requests over the last year for blush and mint weddings, and when I came across this invitation suite from Hey Look I was BLOWN AWAY by how amazing this soft, romantic colour combination works with the modern graphic black and white. With just a touch of gold, of course. It immediately got me thinking of how I often hear brides saying they want something modern but also vintage, and I think maybe this board is a little of what they mean – a contemporary feel without being too stark, and a romantic dreamy backdrop without being too fluffy. The combination sort of reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, who managed to be cutting edge stylish and incredibly classic all at the same time. Beautiful!
PS Just a little reminder for anyone who has been trying to contact me, that I am currently on leave without access to emails. I will get back to you asap!
Colours: Blush, pastel green, graphic black and white with a touch of gold
Top row (l-r): Invitation suite {Michaela Egger/Hey Look}; shoes {Harwell Photography}; striped umbrella
Row 2: Bridesmaids {Alison Mayfield Photography Studio}; boutonnieres {Simply Bloom}; vintage wedding car {Jose Villa}; tassel garland
Row 3: Striped tent; lily bouquet {Jose Villa/Mindy Weiss}; striped tie back {Landon Jacob Productions/Parkside Wedding Studio}; macaroons; cake with chevron.
Inspiration Board: Lazy Hazy Days
Some weddings are all tradition and formality and classic palettes. Invitations are engraved, etiquette is followed. They’re lovely, of course. But the other kind of wedding I love is when a couple takes their cue from their favourite kind of party: a brunch, a dinner party, a picnic, a festival even. Or, in the case of this board, a summer garden party. Sundresses for the ladies, lemonade, alcoholic popsicles, ribbon wands. Red, pink and orange were a popular colour combo a few years ago, but they’re updated here with melon, pink and a punch of yellow – and how gorgeous is that bright citrusy table and bouquet? This would be such a fun wedding to host and attend, and is perfect for a couple who would like to keep things more lighthearted with their palette.
Colours: Orange, yellow, pink
Top row (l-r): Bridesmaids in sundresses {KT Merry/David Arthur Fittin/Lucia Paul Design}; lemonades {KT Merry/David Arthur Fittin/Lucia Paul Design}; bouquet {Cliff Brunk/A Bride’s Best Friend}
Row 2: Parfaits; cake {Anne Robert Photography/Dana FitzGerald/Blackbird Bakery}; billy buttons {Andrea Dozier}
Row 3: Table arrangements {Laura Jane Petelko/Cynthia Martyn Events Inc.}; popsicles in wine; ribbon wands {Cameron + Kelly Studios/Sedona Bride}
Inspiration Board: Gingerbread Biscuit
Hello lovelies! Well, as you read this, I’ll be far away in Tuscany, enjoying some fantastic summer sun. But to make sure my readers in South Africa don’t feel TOO jealous, it being mid-winter and all, I’ve put together this toasty winter board. Gingerbread is, of course, something that we often associate with Christmas, but in the Southern hemisphere it’s much more appropriate for the middle of the year, and it’s the warm copper tones of this biscuit that have inspired today’s board. I think ‘brown’ (or rather, earth toned, as I like to think of them) weddings can get a bad rap – after all, if you use natural textures like wood and dark glass and set it against lush white flowers, pretty detailing and other classic whites, then there’s no reason why it has to be dark and drab at all. Treat your guests to a coffee station (how much do I love these custom calligraphy coffee mug holders?), and warm their fingers and toes at an open fire. There’s a pretty touch of vintage here, but it’s all understated and perfect for the season. What do you think? Would you consider having a winter wedding?
Colours: Mocha, cappuccino, white
Top row (l-r): Bride {Elizabeth Messina}; gingerbread cookies; bouquet {Elizabeth Messina/Mindy Rice}; coffee station
Row 2: Cake table {Ashley Rose}; invitation; brown bottles; gingerbread heart cookies; vintage post card guest book alternative {Oh Darling Photography}
Row 3: Holy matrimony sign; calligraphy cup holder {Oh, How Charming!/Mindy Rice Floral and Event Design/Paperfinger/Aaron Delesie}; escort cards {Carrie Patterson Photography}; white flowers {Polly Alexandre Photography}; Dress with brown overlay {Studio Bella}.
Inspiration Board: Under the Tuscan Sun
Okay, this is about to be a jealous-making post. Because tomorrow, bright and early, I’ll be jetting off to Bella Toscana for three weeks in some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenery on earth. Picture every Tuscan vineyard you’ve ever seen in a film? Yup, exactly like that. I can’t wait! I’ll be working hard under the summer sun, but I’m actually looking forward to it – and to my ‘farmer tan’! ;) As promised, the blog will continue as if nothing has changed, but please be patient if emailing me, because I am officially off the grid. In fact, that’s something I’m almost as excited about, since for the last few years I’ve been constantly connected to some kind of electronic or social media, and it’s time to switch off and just be in the moment. So to celebrate my trip (YAY!), I’ve created a Tuscan-style inspiration board. There were a lot of ways I could have gone with this – understated olive leaf and grey, lavender and green… But one of the things I love about Tuscany is its warmth and abundance, and the fields of sunflowers I saw for the first time from a train window many years ago. These flowers are gorgeous, but they can be overpowering, so I’d just use single blooms for the bridesmaids and then in sporadic arrangements in the reception venue. Include materials such as terracotta and linen, and the straw covered bottles that traditionally hold chianti (called a fiasco, how fun is that?). Fabrics are floaty, and an open sided marquee with long tables is a must (or just set up under the trees). Tuscan olive oil is the best (believe me, I plan to eat lots of it!) and makes the perfect favour. So there you go. And here I go! See you in a month!
Colours: Sunflower yellow, olive green & Tuscan terracotta
Top row (l-r): Dress {Jose Villa Photography/Joy de Vivre Design Boutique}; wire candelabra {Leo Patrone}; floaty bridesmaid dresses {Mint Photography}; tables {Collin Hughes/Shannon Leahy Events}
Row 2: Invitation; place setting with bread {Joy Thigpen/Toast Events and Design/Jose Villa}; stamped envelope {Ruby & Willow}; olive oil favours; sunflower single bloom bouquet {Buffy Dekmar}
Row 3: Bride & groom {Josselyn Peterson/Leonora Moss}; sunflower arrangement {Olivia Griffin Photography/Walton Event Design}; wicker Chianti bottles; Tuscan landscape.
Inspiration Board: Puttin’ on the Ritz
Crunch time you guys! It’s my last week as a Londoner (for a while anyway) and I have about a ZILLION things to do before I go. But we won’t think about that. What we will think about is a bit of a tribute in loveliness to the city. There are a lot of sides to London that could inspire a wedding and many that have inspired me in other ways, but the one I have chosen today is all about glitz and glamour, as symbolised by one of the grand old ladies of the London hotel scene. The Ritz, baby. The palette is mint, gold and classic black and white (with just a teeny tiny hint of blush), the look is chic and romantic and the waiters are definitely serving champagne. So put on your finest frocks and starched collars and come join me! Of course, you don’t have to be in London to make this look work for you – all it requires is a glamorous venue, a cocktail or champagne and canape reception, and a dash of sparkle. Dashing, dahling!
Colours: Mint, gold, black, white & blush
Top row (l-r): Place setting {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; mint dress {Monique Lhuillier}; invitation {umama on Etsy}; gold shoes {Liesl Cheney Photography/b.loved}; fireworks
Row 2: Dessert table in mint and gold {Beau & Arrow Events/Katie Neal Photo}; bridesmaids in LBDs and gold heels {Your Event by Erin/Melissa McClure Photography}; gold cutlery {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; champagne {Belathee Photography}
Row 3: Ritz London {Elly Mac Photos}; bridesmaid with menu {Izzy Hudgins Photography/Simply Savannah Weddings & Events}; table setting {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; bride & groom in London {Steve Poole}.
Inspiration Board: Grayed Jade, Lemon Zest & African Violet
Hello lovelies! How has your weekend been? Mine was awesome, but stressful – only two weeks left to get everything done before I take my month off. The good news is that I have lined up a TON of gorgeousness for you on the blog while I’m gone – all fresh new posts, real weddings, trend roundups, inspiration boards etc. The bad news is that I feel like I haven’t slept since June. Ah, the things I do for my readers! ;) Anyway, it’s been hard to work with the sun out, and that same summery feeling is what I wanted to bring to today’s inspiration board. I’m still so in love with Pantone’s Spring 2013 colour palettes, and a combination I’ve been wanting to do since I first saw them is this one: grayed jade, lemon zest and African violet. I love how the three colours complement one another and are so fresh and pretty together. Greyed jade and soft purple together are so calming, but the pop of bright yellow really livens them up. Perfect for a summer wedding!
Colours: Pantone grayed jade, lemon zest & African violet
Top row (l-r): Dress {Elizabeth Messina}; cocktail {Best Photography/Jennifer Aquilia Events & Floral Design}; yellow macaroons; place setting {Elisa B Photography}
Row 2: Ring with button chocolates; grayed jade shoes; letterpress invitation; blue dress
Row 3: Hanging chandeliers {Elizabeth Messina}; lemon escort cards {Jose Villa}; mint suit; violet bouquet.
Inspiration Board: Midsummer Night’s Dream
I read a lot of wedding blogs, but one that consistently inspires is the fab Magnolia Rouge – I never fail to be inspired by what Kate features! This week one of the pics she posted from a shoot by the fabulously talented Annabella Charles caught my eye, and I was immediately carried away with the idea of a beautiful Midsummer Night’s Dream garden party theme – a delicious twist on the soft pink, green and gold colour scheme that I know so many of you are in love with at the moment. Delicate climbing vines (how pretty is this table?), lush blooms, curly calligraphy, a mossy bed for the rings, a touch of glitz and a night dancing under the stars. It’s elegant, but soft and romantic and even a little bit playful – the perfect combination!
Colours: White, sage green, blush pink and gold
Top row (l-r): Bride with mask {Annabella Charles/Haute Horticulture}; cake {Odalys Mendez Photography/Sweet Sensations}; peony bouquet {Katie Stoops Photography/Pat’s Flowers}; chair {Odalys Mendez/Ginny Au}
Row 2: Calligraphy table numbers {hmacdo on Etsy}; boutonniere; invitation {Paperfinger}
Row 3: Table with trellis {Pasha Belman Photography/Stunning & Brilliant Events}; gold bridesmaid dress {Izzy Hudgins Photography/Simply Savannah Weddings & Events}; nest ring pillow {Acanthus Floral}; table setting {Megan Thiele Studios}; outdoor reception {Edyta Szyszlo/lovely little details}