Words as Wedding Decor

Cari Photography/The Aleit Group on SBB (left); Paige Lowe Photography/Sitting In A Tree via Green Wedding Shoes (centre); Tammy Horton Photography via Style Me Pretty (right)

Something that always amazes me about Pinterest – it being a visual medium – is that one of the most popular things people pin is quotes. Beautifully designed renderings of quotes, yes, but words. Pictures of words. It’s a little odd, right? But then, I get it. After all, I am, if nothing else, a words person. So here’s a quote for you, from Elie Wiesel: Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds. I like that quote. Because it reminds me that even though actions are important, sometimes words can be every bit as good. Like how, if I’m sick, I just have to call my mom and hear her say “I’m so sorry you’re sick, my darling” to feel better – those words are like a hug. Or how words can be a slap in the face, or a handshake, or a pat on the back. Sometimes they wrap around you like a blanket, or sweep you up like a conga line. And sometimes, when the action is as big as giving your whole heart to someone, you need words to share that with the people you love. So they can feel it with you. Which is all a totally poetic way of saying that today’s post is about words. As decor. It’s one of my top 10 trend predictions for 2013, and I officially love it!Read More

Inspiration Board: And It Was All Yellow

Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day… But you can trust that I’ll be brightening up your Monday with a brand new inspiration board on the blog! And this time it’s even brighter than usual, with a yellow-themed board created just for reader Bronwyn. She’s having a summer wedding in Johannesburg, and wants a modern theme for her big day. She’s looking for something clean cut, including square tables, as well as a few quirky ideas. I just loved putting this one together! Yellow is a bold colour choice, but I can’t emphasise enough what a happy colour it is, and I really think that it gets everything off to a wonderful start. With Bronwyn’s ideas as a starting point, I immediately thought of two elements. The first is chevron – the pattern you’ll see under the ring and on the runner below. Chevron is huge in design at the moment, partly because it has links to Art Deco and the 1920s trend, but also because it’s a great balance of clean cut and preppy with a little retro twist to it. And it is just sooo pretty! So I would definitely use chevron as a key motif for this wedding – in stationery, on table runners, etc. There are tons of chevron ideas to play with – just tap it into Pinterest to see a selection. The second element I thought would be great is a focus on typography, which like Bronwyn’s specification, is also modern and clean cut (and brings in the black and white part of the colour palette beautifully). Again, there are lots of ideas around, but at the wedding I’ve included below, the couple really went to town, having hanging ‘banners’ above the reception space with absolutely gorgeous type. You could also type up quotes or meaningful words in your chosen font and frame them to create an installation on one wall at the reception. Add in a few industrial elements (naked lighbulbs, for example, or the quirky but very cool clip escort card idea), use square white vases on the tables, and bring in bold pops of yellow in your flowers (love the tulip bouquet), shoes, bridesmaid dresses, and even your veil. What a gorgeous wedding – I for one can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Hope you like your board, Bronwyn!

Colours: Yellow, black and white

Top row (l-r): Ring {P: Gabe Aceves Photography}; yellow shoes {P: Jennifer Longaway}; reception space with typography accents {P: Erica Loeks}; tulip bouquet{P: Yolande Marx Photography}
Row 2: Naked bulb strings {P: Belathee Photography}; invitation {Minted}; typography banners {P: Erica Loeks}; bright yellow bridesmaid dresses {P: Jennifer Weems Photography}
Row 3: Yellow birdcage veil {P: Chad Cress; Veil: Jade Rose Designs}; yellow flowers in white, square vases; chevron runners; clip escort cards {P: Lara Robby Photography}.