Tag: Inspiration Boards

Inspiration Board: Tropical Bougainvillea

by gaby

We have some more tropical prettiness coming your way this afternoon in the form of today’s inspiration board, highlighting one of my favourite tropical flowers, the bougainvillea. Although it’s not a traditional wedding bloom, I’ve been seeing it pop up more and more in weddings over the years, maybe wrapped around a ceremony arch or tucked into a bouquet, pink tendrils hanging down smelling of summer. For today’s board, bougainvillea is the central focus, its bright pink complemented by a serene shade of grey-blue. And doesn’t it look pretty?
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Fuschia, pink, blue-grey

Top row (l-r): Bougainvillea bouquet (Jeremy Chou/Yellow Bird Events/Peony & Plum) | tropical ceremony area (Jana Morgan) | beaded wedding gown (Anna Campbell/35mm Wedding Photography)
Row 2: Hanging bougainvillea (Merari & Ena/Julia Rohde Designs) | wooden sign board (Brandon Kidd Photography/Heather Hoesch With LVL Weddings And Events/KAKalligraphy) | bougainvillea cake (Anna Delores Photography/Love, Inc. Weddings/MJB Cakes)
Row 3: Bougainvillea wedding invitation (Paper & Type) | ice lollies | ankle posey (Hazel Buckley Photography/Pop of Color Events/Flower Talk)

Row 1: Jessica Tropical Wedding Suite by Citrus Press Co. | Row 2: Eva Wedding Dress by Nielatelier (left); Blue Gray Gauze Table Runner by Lino & Co. (right) | Row 3: Love Driftwood Cake Topper by Fir and Forest | Row 4: Bougainvillea Glabra Artificial (left); Asos Tulle Cap Sleeve Midi Dress In Tonal Lace (right) | Row 5: Custom Name & Date Wood Sign by Carlsons Custom Signs (left); Zehui Ice Cream Popsicle Frozen Mold (right) | Row 6: Dusty Blue Wedding Table Numbers by Elegant Quill Shop (left); Driftwood Guest Cards by Sea Nature Art (right)

 

Pantone Colours of the Year 2016

by gaby

PANTONE header

Hello friends! I’m not gonna lie – it’s been a stressful couple of days getting the site up and dealing with a very poorly fur-baby, so I can’t tell you how glad I am to finally be able to get going with 2016’s exciting content! And… exhale. We’re kicking things off in the prettiest way possible, by introducing Pantone’s colours of the year for 2016 (yes, colours, not just colour – in an unprecedented move, they picked two!). For those of you new to wedding planning, let’s just say that you’ll be seeing a lot of these shades in the year to come, and I couldn’t be happier, because serenity blue and rose quartz blush are just incredibly soft and calming and lovely – the perfect pastels for any kind of wedding. Of course you don’t need to use both together, but I really love the combination, so I’ve put together four different looks to show you how pretty it can be, whatever your wedding style. Which is your fave?

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Best of 2015: Inspiration Boards

by gaby

I really can’t believe that it’s been over five years now of creating inspiration boards. You’d think by now I’d be bored, but I still absolutely love creating these tiny worlds of inspiration and sharing them with you all! So, while we’re doing roundups of the best of 2015, it’s only right that I round up the Top 10 inspiration boards – those that have had the most love on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the blog. I had a complicated algorithm (and by algorithm, I actually mean Excel spreadsheet) to work the ranking out, but funnily enough, I think these are my ten favourites for the year anyway. There’s a range of colours and ideas here, but I think if they have anything in common, it’s that they’re all on the romantic and elegant side. And if next year’s weddings look anything like them, I’ll be one happy wedding blogger! Let’s count ’em off, shall we?

1. SONG OF THE SEA

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Inspiration Board: Partridge in a Pear Tree

by gaby

Hello lovely ones! Every year when Christmas comes around, I take a peek into my archive for festive posts and I’m always reminded of a little board I did way back in 2010 (how have I been doing this more than five years already?). I love the use of fruit in wedding design, and the whole idea of frosted pears and misty mornings just appeals to me, but with the bird wedding theme long having come and gone, I thought it could use a little shake up and renovation. This is the first time I’ve made over one of my own boards, and it was fun! Mix in the current trends for lots of gorgeous greenery in both table arrangements and bouquets, mismatched bridesmaids in grey, a groom in tweed, and those beautiful pears, and you have a Christmas wedding that is definitely not too themey and would work beautifully at any time of year. What do you think?

Top row (l-r): Partridge in a Pear Tree rug; Christmas tags {K is for Calligraphy}; bride in garden {Cameron Ingalls}
Row 2: Tweed groom {Lev Kuperman/Hudson Valley Events/J. Crew}; frosted pears {Jeanna Hayes/WhipperBerry Blog}; bird Christmas tree ornament {Paloma’s Nest}
Row 3: Cake with pear decoration {Caroline Joy/Mayhar Design/Blue Note Bakery}; bridesmaids with greenery bouquets {When He Found Her}; table decor with pears {Lexi Vornberg/Marti’s Floral Designs}

 

Inspiration Board: Marsala Christmas

by gaby

Okay okay, I said I’d never do another Marsala inspiration board, but as we bid farewell to 2015’s colour of the year and welcome a seriously exciting new pair (more on that in January), I thought I’d look back on it just one last time, since it does, after all, offer a fresh spin on Christmas red. I haven’t yet decided what my holiday table will look like, but I must admit I’m tempted by this deep shade of berry combined with natural elements like pinecones and cranberries (ridiculous in a South African summer of course, but who cares). And also, I absolutely must move into that snowy Marsala house RIGHT NOW. (Or at least get myself a print of it in all its glory from artist Kristine Patti.) All in all, I think a Marsala Christmas would be a great way to say goodbye to the year (and the colour) that was – don’t you agree?

Colours: Marsala, white, emerald, wood

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Margherita Calati/Il Giorno che Vorrei}; table with candles {Ashley Cook Photography/Dream Design}; cranberry cocktail {Sacramento Street}
Row 2: Bridesmaids {Troy Grover Photographers/Michelle McGregor}; earrings {Endora Jewellery/Etsy}; cranberry escort cards {David Stark/Susan Montagna}
Row 3: Christmas house {Kristine Patti}; chocolate berry cake {Rebecca Hollis/Romancing the Stone}; Marsala wreath {Marigold’s Designs/Etsy}; place setting {Chantall Marshall Photography/Kadou}

 

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Inspiration Board: Traveller’s Journal

by gaby

I have to say, I’m having fun with the inspiration boards this month, reinventing the travel theme for current trends and styles. Today’s is no exception. For this one, I was inspired by the idea of a watercolour travel journal, which immediately made me think of this amazing stationery suite, and that made me think of sunny days in the beautiful Italian countryside. I love the way that neutrals as a colour scheme can look so romantic – it’s all about textures. Soft tulle, honey brickwork, soft leather, ribbon, lace… This is one travel-styled wedding that will never date.

Colours: Shades of neutral & white

Top row (l-r): Travel journal invitation suite {Ceci New York}; stone building {Jose Villa Photography}; place setting {Jose Villa/Easton Events}
Row 2: Bride in veil {Jose Villa Photography}; getaway car {Jose Villa Photography}; leather luggage tags {HarLex}
Row 3: Cake {KT Merry/Moda e Arte Workshop/Joy Proctor Design/Hotel Caruso}; bride & groom {Jose Villa Photography/Joy de Vivre Design Boutique}; bridesmaids & bouquets {Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers}

 

Inspiration Board: Stars to Guide Us Home

by gaby

Morning lovely ones – as I mentioned last week, for our travel-themed wedding month, I wanted to create a few boards that had fresh twists on the idea of travel and journeys. Last week, we got all tropical, and today I wanted to get a bit nautical (but nice, haha). I’ve always found the idea of sailors being guided home by the stars to be super romantic, so I’ve combined a vintage nautical and celestial motifs, and I have to tell you, I LOVE it. Not only are these themes compatible from a concept perspective – they’re a perfect fit from a design angle too, especially if you love navy as much as I do!
* Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Navy, gold & white

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom on sailboat (Hamilton Photography); celestial wedding invitation (Minted); compass escort cards
Row 2: Contellation table runner (Miniature Rhino); navy candles (Odalys Mendez/Simply Charming Socials); navy macarons (The French Confection Co./Minted & Vintage/Silence of the Lens)
Row 3: Cake with constellations (Meg Ruth Photo/Peridot Sweets); groom in navy suit (Amy & Jordan Photography); constellation map centrepiece (Arielle Doneson Photography/Kirkbrides/Bouquet Studio); navy sparkle shoes (BHLDN)

Row 1: Celestial Wedding Invitation from Minted | Row 2: Jimmy Choo Romy 40 Pumps (left); Anchor & Sail Nautical Signs by Z Create Design (right) | Row 3: Compass Cufflinks by Vintage Stamp Jewels (left); Anthropologie Swivel Globe (right) | Row 4: Constellation Star Table Numbers by soumyasdesigns(left); Sequin Fishtail Maxi Dress by Club L (right) | Row 5: Navy Sequin Tablecloth by Lino and Co. | Row 6: Star Hair Pins by Blair Nadeau Bridal (left); Personalized Compass Wooden Wedding Place Cards by Sooooound(right)

 

Inspiration Board: Mulled Wine

by gaby

It’s time for the last in our series of wine-inspired boards (previously we’ve featured Rosé, Merlot & Champagne). This time, instead of focusing on an actual wine, I’ve focused on a wine cocktail – namely the mulled wine that’s always such a lovely part of Christmas (at least in a cold climate!). I loved the way that the deep red (a nod to this year’s colour of the year, Marsala) mixes with nutty browns like cinnamon and citrus orange, just like it does in the drink. I actually think this would make a gorgeous rustic winter or autumn wedding ‘theme’ – you could include touches of citrus and cinnamon or star anise in bouquets and table arrangements, or as dried place setting decorations, and all the colours and textures work beautifully together. Plus the orange adds a lot of warmth and punch to the burgundy, and it’s an unusual pairing, so looks fresh and fun. So there you go. Is it just me, or could you do a glass of mulled wine right now? Mmmm.

Colours: Burgundy, orange, mocha & green

Top row (l-r): Mulled wine {Flourishing Foodie}; bouquet {Jose Villa/Moon Canyon Design}; ring in box {Lani Elias Fine Art Photography/Julie Doan}
Row 2: Bridesmaids {Photographs by Jenna Leigh}; place setting with cinnamon stick {Park Road Photography by Sarah Elle/Taylor Perkins of Alisa Lewis Event Design}; bouquet with oranges {Erba Floral Studio}
Row 3: Groom with braces {Lavender & Twine}; calligraphy invitations {A Fabulous Fete}; kumquat naked cake {Michael and Kate Photography/Evoke Event Design and Coordination}; bride {Ashley Rae Photography/Alexandra Grecco}

 

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Inspiration Board: Champagne

by gaby

Is it too early in the morning for champagne? Ha, don’t be silly. It’s NEVER too early for champagne. Of course, this is the kind of champagne that won’t get you into trouble with your boss, the latest in our inspiration boards designed for wine varieties (see Rosé & Merlot if you missed them) in honour of our vineyard wedding month. And I have to say, I love this sparkly neutral, which pairs beautifully with many other romantic shades – gold, blush, grey… But today we’re sticking to the single colour, and loving the delicate balance of sophistication and dreaminess. So what do you say – champers, darling?

Colours: Champagne & white

Top row (l-r): Bride in champagne wedding dress {Jennifer Ebert Photography/La Boheme Events/Lovely Bride}; candle tablescape {Wendell T. Webber}; champagne in bucket {Pasha Belman}
Row 2: Peony centrepiece {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management/Francesco Di Bianco}; love letter {Lavender Calligraphy}; bridesmaids {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management}
Row 3: Place setting {Sylvie Gil/Bliss Event Productions}; bridesmaid & invitation {Josh Gruetzmacher/Aerialist Press}; cake {Coco Tran/Lara Kreutner}; champagne coupés {Frank & Joy}

 

Inspiration Board: You Had Me at Merlot

by gaby

Hello lovelies! Today we’re continuing the wine theme of this month’s inspiration boards (see last week’s, Rosé), with the rich jewel tones of Merlot. This board is like the darker, more dramatic cousin to the Marsala inspiration that’s been everywhere this year, but dark definitely doesn’t have to mean depressing. Rather, with a touch of gold, white and emerald, and some well-chosen wine-inspired details, it’s the perfect, elegant inspiration. I’m loving it. (Oh, and by the way, I totally nicked the title of today’s board from this adorable novel – such a fun read!)

Colours: Merlot, emerald, white & gold

Top row (l-r): Place setting {Ashley Cook Photography/Dream Design}; centrepiece and coloured glassware {William Innes Photography/Kristeen LaBrot Events/Fujiko’s Flowers}; wine cork ring shot {Jarrad Lister Photography/Perfect Italy Wedding}; candles on wine barrel {Abri Kruger/4 Every Event}
Row 2: Wine stain stationery {Jodi Miller Photography}; sparkly burgundy shoes {Studio 563}; bouquet {Jenny Jimenez/Ryder Sloan Events}
Row 3: Burgundy peonies; cake {Gingerale Photography/Absolute Perfection/Pippa and Polly Cakery}; merlot bridesmaids {Sarah Ainsworth Photography}