There is nothing like a real wedding to inspire ideas for your own wedding day.  We found this post through our RSS wedding buzz, source: http://www.thebridescafe.com, and hope it inspires you as much as it did us!  Follow the links to see more. It’s titled: Real Wedding: Sarah & Jesse

Welcome back to the beautiful “fall theme” wedding of Sarah & Jesse…they are just the cutest couple and I love the simplicity of their wedding story…so filled with love, family and friends…..and all the rich fall tones of their color palette combined with the sunflowers….a true fall wedding in Virginia.

Their wedding story was captured by the talented and ever so nice…Joe Portnoy of  Snap Photography.  Joe is an awesome photographer and a totally cool guy…he shared with me that Sarah and Jesse hired him a month before their wedding and were so cute and so friendly.  Joe said they really love each other and it shows!  Let’s check out all the magic Joe captured on Sarah & Jesse’s beautiful day…Enjoy!

Thanks SO much for stopping by the cafe Joe…Sarah & Jesse’s images are all so beautiful and we look forward to your next visit….guys, make sure you check out Joe’s blog site to see more of his gorgeous work and to Sarah & Jesse, we wish you a lifetime filled with happienss and joy….xoxoxo

View more real weddings on http://www.thebridescafe.com

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Who can really resist an adorable motif that you carry through your entire wedding? We definitely can’t! That’s why we couldn’t stop talking about these DIY stamped menu cards that we spotted on lindaandharriett.blogspot.com. What a cute idea and totally doable since stamps come in all different designs and styles.

Green Weddings – RSS News: greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com

Today we have a gorgeous wedding photographed by the talent duo of Stephanie + Isaac Williams of Stephanie Williams Photography. I’m totally in love with Janet + Matt’s theme of gray and yellow with red hearts – and Janet’s shoes! They are so perfect for a wedding – and with the theme of their whole day – a red heart. What a perfect, simple, lovely idea. Their ceremony was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto and the reception was at the brand new Rosewood Sand Hill resort.

Janet’s dress is by La Sposa Pronovias and her shoes are by Vivienne Westwood. The gorgeous flowers are by Nicole Ha Designs. Janet’s make-up and hair was done by the talented Make-up Artist Giao Nguyen, who also has an etsy shop as well. Videography was done by the amazing Andrew Oh.

The beautiful cake is by Satura Cakes.

Love is all you need. Thanks so much to Stephanie and Isaac for sharing this beautiful wedding with us! Everything Stephanie photographs is truly breathtaking. Check out their blog for even more from this wedding!

Photographed for Next Exit Photography.

RSS wedding buzz, source: brideslittlewhitebook.blogspot.com

I am so excited for Halloween and thought it would be fun to share some things that are inspiring me this year! I love the idea of a glammed up Halloween fete, full of pink and silver accents.

Some great resources for ghoulish decor are Jamali Garden, Luna Bazaar, and, believe it or not, The Dollar Store, where you can find lots of sparkly skulls to accent your table.

{mercury glass pumpkins via pottery barn (last year); flower arrangements via Ruby Press}

Simply charming fascinators from Hapitat! All handmade with recycled vintage fabrics, feathers, and lace.

Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe it’s almost October? It’s officially Fall, isn’t it? Now we start thinking about pumpkins, falling leaves, and warm cups of tea. Enjoy your weekend!

RSS wedding buzz, source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EarthFriendlyWeddings/~3/aq7yHVY2ADU/handmade-fascinators-with-vintage.html

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Gosh it’s late – the day is almost over! But I promised you an inspiration board, so here it is. I’m not sure it turned out quite the way I was hoping, but I do think it gives you a good idea of the color scheme and the relaxed backyard feel, which is really what an inspiration board is all about – the ideas. I had Jordan Ferney’s darling purplic picnic box lunch in mind when I pulled these images together, and though there is something Spring-like to this look, I think it could work for a late summer or early fall picnic wedding reception too.

Mood: relaxed, sweet
Palette: grape sorbet, deep red cherry

{click image to enlarge}

Top row from left: photo by Jessica Kettle, concord grape sorbet from Martha Stewart Weddings, lilac centerpiece (from Nole’s beautiful wedding!) photo by Punam Bean, magenta envelope with calligraphy photo by Corbin Gurkin
Row 2: dahlia and strawberry centerpiece by Studio Choo, purple felt ring pillow by ssdksy, little cake via Twigs & Honey, purple dress with belt by Ban.do
Row 3: pinwheels from Hatch Creative Studio, lilac bouquet by Claire Bean for Brides, purple picnic box by Jordan Ferney for Project Wedding

RSS wedding buzz, source: swsmag.net/blog

For the grand finale of Poonam + Chirag’s wedding extravaganza, let’s all take a moment to marvel in the four-tiered and multi-layered confection that was their cake.  After being wowed by the rich reds and deep pinks of the couple’s lavish ceremony, I’m really liking the crisp, clean details (think bright whites, fresh greens and cool blues) of their reception.  The white and green centerpieces from KH Florals are a sophisticated contrast to the fun green-and-white-themed candy bar while the icy blue mood light is wonderfully sleek and modern.  Thank you again to Our Labor of Love and our very own Lara Casey for sharing their respective wedding-day genius.  Could I start the weekend on a better note?What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? When Chirag tried to tie the mangal sutra (a black beaded necklace that the groom clasps on the bride’s neck to signify that they are now husband and wife), he couldn’t undo the clasp and spent a few minutes fumbling with it before he finally got it open.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We had a traditional Hindu ceremony so didn’t exchange verbal vows.  Instead, we took seven steps around a fire together, each signifying a vow.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? We are currently living in Houston but we plan to buy a house in Austin and settle down there in the near future.  In the mean time, we’ve set a goal of jumping on a plane once a month and visiting somewhere new.

Congratulations, Poonam + Chirag!  The SW girls send all their love and luck!

Wedding news source: swsmag.net/blog/

Since one image board couldn’t possibly do this wedding justice, we’re back with Part II of Poonam + Chirag’s wedding extravaganza.  Many more glamorous pics to peruse thanks to the ultra-talented husband and wife duo at Our Labor of Love, but what I really love is the bride’s dramatic bouquet of roses, calla lilies and rich gold accents, courtesy of Kebbie Hollingsworth Floral Design.  And the to-die-for jewelry?  Custom made and designed in Mumbai, India.  (Sigh.)  I have a bit (okay, a lot) more oohing and ahhing to do and I really hope you’ll join me again for Part III!

Describe your wedding flowers: Our wedding flowers were mostly red roses and red calla lilies.  The reception flowers were all white mixed flowers (tulips, lilies and peonies) with green accents.
Describe your wedding cake: It was four-tiered cake sitting on a bed of white hydrangeas with white sugar rose petals scattered on each layer.  Each layer was a different flavor because we couldn’t decide what we wanted.  There was italian creme, chocolate with kahlua, butter almond and carrot cake.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? The number of events involved and having to perfect the details for each one.  There were five total events and six wardrobe changes over the course of three days. Did i mention we also had about 500 guests?
Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding? Rather than block off any hotel rooms, the majority of our guests stayed in large beach houses in Miramar Beach.  This was a lot of fun for our guests because they could enjoy the beach and spend time together.

Wait, there’s more!  Part III just might be the best yet…

I know we tend to get a little excited about weddings around here (join the club, right?), but I promise today’s wedding from Our Labor of Love is unlike anything you have ever seen!  Apart from the bright colors, lush details and over-the-top amazingness of this Florida wedding, Poonam + Chirag’s extravagant five-day affair at the Emerald Coast Conference Center was actually planned, designed and executed by our very own, Lara Casey.  The rich jewel tones of the bride’s and her attendants’ custom-designed ceremony outfits are breathtaking and the plush pillows and floor seating perfectly regal.  Kind of blown away, aren’t you?  Don’t worry, there’s more… much more!  In the meantime, if you just can’t wait, check out the original post from Our Labor of Love.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. It’s actually quite funny.  My friends and I met Chirag and his cousin out one night in Houston.  I was 21 years old and Chirag said that he was 24.  We all went out a few times together and then one day Chirag sent me a text message that said “Dinner?”… that was his “romantic” way of asking me out for our first date!  We went to dinner at Star Pizza and he confessed that he actually was 28.  I didn’t believe him and demanded that he show his ID.   I couldn’t believe I was smitten by someone who was so old!
Describe the proposal. Chirag flew out to Fort Walton Beach with his family to visit.  We were all hanging out at my house when Chirag suggested we take a walk on the beach.  We were sitting on the beach and I was lying down next to him.  He threatened to pour sand on me and I told him I’d smack him if he did!  Instead, he placed the ring on my neck and asked me if I’d marry him.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Exhilarating, blessed and amazing.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding invitation? I found an invitation that matched the mandap (the stage) where our wedding ceremony took place.
What was your favorite design element of your big day? The sweetheart table at the reception.|
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The dessert bar.

This is one wedding you absolutely cannot miss!  Check back soon for Parts II and III and prepared to be wowed!

RSS wedding buzz, source: swsmag.net/blog/

Happy Friday everyone! This past week Jessica Claire offered a workshop to help photographers practice capturing all those beautiful details shots. All those details you work so hard on – you want to make sure your photographer captures them! My friend Summer from Grey Likes Weddings was the stylist for the session and I’m totally loving the “fake wedding” she put together with the help of Megan with MAEMAE Paperie and Lauryl with Flora Organica Design. All photos below by the talented Brandon Kidd. And this is just a sneak peak to it! Check out Grey Likes Weddings in the upcoming days for more details into what went into the styling of the session.

Really beautiful everyone! The people that helped make this day possible:

Event & Photo Stylist: Grey Likes Weddings

Floral Design: Flora Organica

Hair & Makeup: Vivian Tran: All Made Up

Wedding Stationary, Favors, and Paper Suite: MaeMae Paperie More details of her work for this session on her blog here.

Printing of paper products: Czar Press

Fabric Rosettes, shoe clips, and “just married” banner over cake: B. Poetic

Cake: Cheryl Stewart of Cake My Day

Bridal Wardrobe: The White Dress

Rentals: Olde Good Things

Organizer of the day/ teacher: Jessica Claire

Check out more photos from behind the scenes and from the shoot on Brandon’s Blog. Also, wanted to give a shout out to Jenna for sending me the link to Brandon’s photos!

Green Weddings – RSS News: greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com

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In my last post about my son’s space birthday party, I mentioned that Linda Facci of Facci Designs would be joining us here to share DIY tips on how to make papier mache. Linda created the papier mache planets for Zach’s party. Linda is an incredibly gifted artist. She was the design director for InStyle magazine for many years, and now owns her own graphic design boutique in NYC. She also happens to be a master crafter and is skilled in a variety of techniques, including papier mache. So when I was looking for papier mache planets for Zach’s party, I knew that Linda was the person to turn to.

Here are Linda’s DIY tips for creating the papier mache planets…Keep in mind that this is quite a labor-intensive DIY project!

Linda gathered an assortment of round balloons

She then created her papier mache mixture by mixing flour and water

Linda dipped strips of newspaper into the flour mixture

Linda applied three layers of strips to each balloon, allowing each layer to dry in between

On a damp day, this helped speed up the drying process

A closeup of the wet papier mache

Once dry, Linda painted each planet with a coat of white primer before applying the color. Then they dry again.. I love how Linda rested the planets on flower pots!

Linda used acrylic paints. The colors are easy to mix and they clean up easily with water.

The first layer of color. Then more drying time. Linda also added hooks to each planet so I could hang them.

A closeup of Neptune and Venus. With two coats of base color, a second darker or lighter color is sponged on to bring out the texture. A gloss coat is then sprayed on to give the planets some shine and protection.

The eight planets!

To view Linda’s portfolio, visit her site or her blog.

RSS wedding buzz, source: mydiyweddingday.com

We love finding fun packaging that we can spin into a DIY favor idea. This one was extra easy to pull of because it was all about the paint can. (P.S. We worked in our signature wedding shade to make it a real hit!)

Materials:
Mini paint cans ($.99 at Rojay Party Store)
Candy
Favor tags

Steps
Fill up the cans with your favorite mini treats. (Our color palette was cherry and gray so we found the brightest mix of red candies!). Attach your favor tag. Keep it simple or get creative like we did with the paintbrush idea. A bright and punchy tag would also look great, too.

RSS wedding buzz, source: mybeachfavors.com/blog

Exotic Cocktails

One great thing about beach wedding receptions is its fun and laid back nature. You can let your hair down, walk barefooted on the sand, dance whimsically under the moonlight, and have fun with the wonderful ocean scenery as your backdrop. Another thing that many people love about this is of course, the flavorful cocktails that can truly make you have the time of your life.

For those getting married in a beach setting soon and those who want extra-special and out-of-the-ordinary cocktail drinks for the reception, here are some ideas to keep in mind:

Strawberry Basil Martini – Sweet Tangy Herbal Infusion

This cocktail drink, inspired by Jamie Walker, Global Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire Gin, is the perfect drink for those looking for something that is sweet and tangy with a hint of flavorful herb. To make this, mix 1 oz. gin, 1/4 oz. strawberry liqueur, 1 oz. white cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker. Add 3 halved strawberries, 3 squeeze of limejuice and 3 basil leaves. Mix it up. Add lots of ice, shake and then double strain and put into a chilled martini glass.

Jamaica Margarita – Reggae-ing to the Max

For this unique drink, you need to have 1 cup of dried hibiscus blossoms placed into a strainer and rinsed. Combine these blossoms with 3 cups of water, and 2 cups of sugar into a saucepan and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain and discard the flowers. Chill the hibiscus mixture and then add to 1 ¼ cups of tequila, ½ cup fresh lime juice and 1/3 cup of any orange flavored liqueur. Garnish the drink with lime slices.

Cranberry Margarita – Tequila with a Twist

Tequila drinks are always great to have in parties. But if you are looking for something different, you would probably love this exciting Cranberry Margarita. To make this, combine 1 and ½ shots Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila, 1 shot cranberry juice cocktail, ¼ cup whole cranberry sauce, ½ shot Cointreau, and ice in a blender. Blend until you get a smooth and frothy mixture. Pour the drink into a margarita glass and garnish with cranberry and lime slices.

Sangria – Drink with a Touch of Delight

For Sangria, you will need to have one bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz) and then pour this into a pitcher. Squeeze in one lemon and one orange, both cut into wedges. Add the wedges but remove the seeds first. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 shot brandy. Chill overnight. Add 2 cups of ginger ale or club soda before serving. You can serve this pre-chilled or with ice. For a touch of delight, you can add in fruits like strawberries, peaches, blueberries or kiwi.

Here are some more tips on how to have fun with the cocktail drinks for your beach wedding reception:

1. Have a tasting bar that would showcase you and your partner’s favorite cocktail flavors. Offer the drinks in shooters so guests can have a try of the different types.
2. Ask the guests to try their own flavor and experiment with the drinks with the help of an expert bartender.
3. Match the signature drinks to the theme of the wedding. For example, the Jamaican cocktail would be perfect for a reggae-inspired theme wedding.

The beach wedding can surely be the perfect way to celebrate your love and union. Make this event complete with servings of exciting exotic cocktails for you and the guests to enjoy.

Also don’t forget to check out our fabulous cocktail favors!

RSS wedding buzz, source: thebridescafe.com

DIY contributor, Laurie Cinotto of La La Laurie, is here to share her fun and beautiful DIY – Wedding Cake Chandelier with us…….you are going to love this project and Laurie is simply AMAZING….now let’s get started….Thanks SO much Laurie……Enjoy Everyone!

Supplies:

Satin acetate ribbon – 1″ wide  (Satin acetate ribbon is available at most craft stores or florists. Generally, it’s very inexpensive sold in a bolt of 100 yards.
3 metal craft rings  small, medium and large.   (I used 14″, 9″ and 5″ in diameter)
A couple of colors of card stock
White fabric coated wire – 18″ long (Available in the floral section of craft stores)
Flower shaped craft punch  (Save on Crafts has an excellent craft punch selection, so does Martha Stewart Crafts)
Leaf shaped craft punch
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Wire cutters

Getting started:

To calculate the amount of ribbon you’ll need you need to first determine the circumference of your rings.

To do this, measure the diameter of each ring, and multiply it by 3.14   (then round off the number)

19″ x 3.14 = 44″
15″ x 3.14 = 29″
5″ x 3.14 = 16″
Total = 89″

For each circumference inch, you will  need 14″ of ribbon. All three circle circumferences totaled 89 inches. 89″ x 14″ =  1246″  (which equals roughly 35 yards of ribbon… it’s always good to get a couple extra yards for good measure)

You’ll be working with a glue gun,so it’s a good idea to protect your work surface with newsprint or butcher paper before you begin.

Instructions:

1.  Cut your ribbon into 14″ lengths.  You can use one color, or multiple shades.  I chose to use two colors; cream and butter yellow.

2.  Lay one of your cut ribbon lengths horizontally down in front of you.    Measure in 6.5 inches from the left side, fold here and crease.  Fold the remaining inch of ribbon towards the left, and crease to make a loop. (see fig A)

3.  Open up the loop, place a dot of  glue just to the left of the crease at the 1″ mark, and fold closed leaving the 1″ tab free (see figure B)

4.  Repeat steps 2 and 3 and fold enough loops for all three rings.

5.  Place one of your loops  under the ring, with the ring on the 1″ crease mark.   Place a small dot of glue on the ribbon loop to the left of the ring, and fold the 1″ tab over the ring to secure.   (see fig C and D)

6.  Work your way around the ring, adding loops until it’s covered and you’ve created your first “cake layer”.    Repeat the steps above and add loops to make the medium and large layers.

7.  Take 3 strands of fabric coated wire and attach them to the ring of the smallest layer.  Be sure they are evenly spaced around the ring. (see fig E)  Join the wires and make a loop.  Trim off the extra wire. (See fig. F)  The distance between the top of the loop and top of the ring should be about 6″.

8.  Repeat step 7 and make hangers for the medium and large layers.

9.  Join the 3 layers  using short sections of wire attached to the hanger loops.  You’ll want the layers  to overlap by at least an inch when they hang.    Join the small and medium layers first, then attach them both to the large.

10.  Find a place to hang your cake.  It’s easier to complete the last step if your hands are free.

11.   Punch out several paper flowers and leaves.  Attach them randomly along the top of the large cake layer using your hot glue gun. (see fig I)

12. Display your Wedding Cake Chandelier at your wedding reception or bridal shower.

You can make cakes with any number or size of layers and in any colors.  Several cakes clustered together would make a lovely display above a dessert table. They are light weight, and very easy to hang.

These are not hard to make, but they do take time.  It goes much faster if you have some extra helping hands.  It’s a good project to do weeks before, not days before your wedding.