Eat, Drink & Be Married!

I {heart} Wedding Dresses

2012-01-11T22:59:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things when planning my wedding was trying on dresses. I did not have a specific style or designer in mind and tried on all sorts of styles, cuts, lengths, and designers. Even if you know exactly what dress you want to wear, I would suggest trying on some different styles and you may be surprised with what you actually end up liking. Besides, how many times in your life will you be able to try on outrageous wedding gowns?

It also never fails to amaze me that something as simple as a "white dress" can come in so many different styles. Here are some of my favorites!

Source: sarahklassen.com via Monica on Pinterest

This short beach wedding dress (which unfortunately I don't know the name of the designer) is the most popular of the wedding dresses I have on Pinterest. I love the sweetheart neckline and the ruffled skirt that looks like rose petals.

Source: d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net via Monica on Pinterest

I love this over the top bustier dress with a burst of tulle that looks like feathers.

Source: citified.blogspot.com via Monica on Pinterest

Just because a dress is not formally a wedding dress does not mean you can't wear it as one. This simple, yet dramatic dress would be perfect for a very modern, urban wedding. Don't be afraid to look outside of wedding dress retailers for your dress! I tried on dresses from Bloomingdales and Nieman Marcus that were not part of a bridal collection.

Source: bhldn.com via Monica on Pinterest

This short wedding dress is also very modern feeling. It is also a bustier with a feathery skirt.

Source: thegirlnextdior.tumblr.com via Monica on Pinterest

I absolutely love this feminine lace wedding dress with the gold ribbon detail. It has a very vintage feel and I envision it for a wine country wedding in the vineyards.

Source: weddingchicks.com via Monica on Pinterest

This Monique Lhuillier dress from her Fall 2012 Bridal collection is very classic with delicate embroidery details.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Monica on Pinterest

I am a big fan of Oscar de la Renta wedding dresses. I love this layered skirt that is both dramatic but soft.

Source: snippetandink.com via Monica on Pinterest

Sometimes it is all in the understated details like this adorable polka dot lace dress. The cut is very simple with no lace or embroidery detail, but the polka dot tulle brings a simple element of surprise.

Lovely Wedding Cakes

2011-11-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

The artistry of wedding cakes never fails to wow me. Whether they are intricate and ornate or beautiful in their simplicity, wedding cakes are absolutely a craft. It seems almost sinful to take a knife to them! I saved the top tier of my wedding cake and the Mister and I tried to choke down a few bites on our one year anniversary! Did anyone else try this? How did it taste?

The silver ribbon detail on this cakes is gorgeous.

Source: projectwedding.com via Monica on Pinterest

This gold cake falls on the intricate and ornate end of the spectrum. The amount of craftsmanship that went in to creating this cake is astounding to me!

Source: pinterest.com via Monica on Pinterest

I love this sweet modern cake with whites and pops of pinks.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Monica on Pinterest

This vintage inspired cake seemingly dripping with lace and old world flowers is so stylish.

Source: dreamsicleday.tumblr.com via Monica on Pinterest

Can an all white cake with relatively no flourishing detail be show stopping? It can if it is garnished with some simple succulents for a beautiful outdoor wedding - in wine country perhaps?!

Source: stylemepretty.com via Monica on Pinterest

As someone who loves to relish the details, I love the delicate ripples of the ruffles that must have taken a tremendous amount of patience and time to create.

Source: Uploaded by user via Monica on Pinterest

This cake is both simple and ornate. It is white on white but the flower petals are so delicate.

Source: 100layercake.com via Monica on Pinterest

I love the glamorous pearl detailing on an otherwise simple cake.

Source: flickr.com via Monica on Pinterest

Pink Wedding Centerpieces

2011-10-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

The addiction to Pinterest continues! I wish this were around when I was planning my own wedding as it is a great place to create an online scrapbook for wedding inspiration! I am going to be a bridesmaid in April and I have a ton of pink wedding pictures and inspiration to share.

I love this texture of this arrangement. Not only are the pastels soft but the petals and leaves look so soft!

I love the use of this vintage tin as a vase. I could also see this for a garden party.

I absolutely adore the ruffles on the chairs! So feminine and modern. And of course, I love the chandelier.

More pink ruffles and chandeliers! This has a more victorian old world feel with the tall centerpieces.

This centerpiece is a more low key option than the tall centerpieces but equally lovely. I love the soft pinks and whites against the silver. Silver can be a cooler choice than gold but this centerpiece still looks warm.

Jan De Luz - Home Decor and Furnishings Curator

2011-09-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

If you ever find yourself in Carmel-By-The-Sea, make sure to drop in to Jan De Luz's two home decor stores. He is a curator of vintage home decor and furnishings. When my husband and I popped in there were grand statues that were sister models of statues at Versailles! As I was snapping photos, Jan De Luz himself sauntered over and asked if I was interested in the pieces to which I replied, "If I could afford it, I would take it all home."

So many things to love here - the antiqued mirror and the gleaming chandelier! The space itself was cavernous and full of wood beamed ceilings. A perfect venue to show such stunning pieces.

I am not sure why I would ever need a staircase that leads to nowhere for but I immediately said, "I have to have this!"

My highly documented love of chandeliers continues. There were amazing chandeliers strung throughout the store but this crystal masterpiece was my favorite.

I {heart} Jose Villa Wedding Photography

2011-09-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

My love of Jose Villa's photography is no secret. As an amateur photographer and lover of all things wedding, he is a constant source of inspiration and general oooohs and aaaaahs. Here are some of my recent faves....

I am a sucker for anything equestrian and this bride and groom are just adorable!

I absolutely love the "golden hour" light in this photo. Dreamy soft light perfection.

While I tend to like soft neutrals and pastels, I love this mustard yellow and sage silver color combination in this wedding centerpiece. Just enough pop of color with a stylish print table runner.

If I have a vow renewal ceremony one day I want this amazing bouquet with cabbage roses, hints of lambs ear, and wildflower like accents. Absolutely gorgeous!

Wedding Scrapbook On Pinterest

2011-07-23T22:48:00.000-07:00

Ever since I discovered Pinterest I can't stop pinning! I wish this website were around when I was planning my own wedding. I love that I can easily pin inspirational images and have an online scrapbook. There are also some great tastemakers and bloggers out there that provide lovely curated wedding inspiration galleries of their own.

Here are some of my favorite wedding dresses that I have pinned to my Wedding Board - enjoy and follow me on Pinterest!

This short beach wedding dress I found on Haute Design has been the most popular pinned dress. It is sexy and chic and gorgeously modern. The light, the hair, the jewelry all comes together perfectly.

This vintage Oscar De La Renta dress I found on This Is Glamorous's second blog, a glamorous little side project, is my personal favorite. The bustier and lace is so feminine and subtly sexy. It is just so delicate and if I had a time machine and money to burn I would travel back in time and find this dress for my wedding.

I have posted many photos from one of my favorite wedding photographers, Jose Villa. His photos never disappoint and this bridal model shoot is absolute perfection. As an aspiring photographer myself I am amazed by Jose's mastery of light and mood.

This Elie Saab Couture dress is absolutely stunning. The diaphanous, sparkly dress looks like it is spun from clouds and stars. This is a dress that, when those church doors open, takes everyone's breath away.

Kohl Mansion - A Wedding Venue Review

2010-12-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

One of the most important decisions you will make as a bride- or groom-to-be is venue selection. Your venue will set the tone and theme of your wedding. It was an agonizing decision for me. When planning my wedding I visited tons and tons of wedding venues all over Northern California from coast, to wine country, to San Francisco, to the Peninsula.

So I thought I would share my experiences and opinions about the venues that I visited. This review is for Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, CA. By day it is a private girls school, by night it is a gorgeous wedding venue. By Bay Area standards, the rental fee was average at around $10,000 but there was no corkage and while they have vendor relationships, you could choose your own caterer and so on. The wedding coordinator was super helpful and accommodating and responsive. I would have loved to hold my ceremony and reception here, but the rental fee just cut too much in to my budget but if you can swing it, I would highly recommend it

The "Great Room" is a classic ballroom with soaring ceilings and floor to ceiling windows that opens out to the gorgeous patio with a dreamy fountain.

The "Morning Room" is an intimately elegant room with chic black and white checkered floor. It was suggested that this room be used to host the cake. An entire room just for the cake!

I {heart} Food Blogs

2010-11-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

I don't like to cook. I really want to like it, but I just don't. But as a newlywed and future mother, I have come to realize that a meal is about nurturing and love so I am motivated to revisit my relationship with cooking. In my quest to find recipes (preferably ones that take about 30 minutes prep time and involve less than 6 ingredients) I stumbled upon some amazing food blogs. Their recipes are a little intimidating but the pictures are so gorgeous and full of texture and detail that it is inspirational.

What Katie Ate is one of the best food blogs. It's not just her amazing recipes but her absolutely amazing pictures. She also has the best collection of vintage cooking tools. She nails the new culinary trend of authentic, rustic presentation versus the perfect, overly staged one. A lot of pictures are "messy" and partially eaten or with sauce dripping and unevenly sliced vegetables and fruits.

Cannelle et Vanille is another gorgeously shot food blog. She is not only a culinary master, but an expert at photography and detail. You can almost taste her pictures!

Une-Deux Senses is a California girl after my California heart. Her recipes are approachable but fantastic looking - they look way harder to make than they actually are. They are just exotic enough but manageable. In true California style, she has ethnic recipes, healthy recipes, and has her own adaptations.

When I travel I love taking pictures of my favorite dishes. Here are some of my favorite food pictures taken by yours truly!

I loved these heart shaped doughnuts that we had in Positano, Italy. They were filled with yummy custard.

I love love love Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, California. It's a cute little french restaurant with eclectic decor and amazing food. This was an heirloom tomato salad with basil, olive oil, and a balsamic reduction. I am now obsessed with heirloom tomatoes and have it on my salads daily!

Quintessentially New England! My husband and I go to Kittery, Maine every time we visit his parents and go to Roberts Maine Grill for steamers and lobster. We tend to be there in the off season in the winter so at times we have the restaurant to ourselves. It's so nice and quiet and quaint - a perfect way to spend a winter day.

This meal in Rome was just so rustic. In the States you rarely get a whole fish, with head in tact nonetheless. This sea bass was so simple but so fresh and flakey. It reminds me that sometimes a dish doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious.

Sundrenched Wedding Inspiration Board

2010-11-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

I am not quite ready to relinquish summer. Yes, it is cold and raining out. And yes, it gets dark so very early. But only four days ago it was still 80 warm degrees here in California but how quickly the weather can change!

So in a bit of protest (and denial), I am posting a sun-drenched, lush rustic summer wedding inspiration board. Of course, my favorite picture is the outdoor dinner beside a gorgeous farm house with chandeliers strung above the guests! Lovely!

Soulflower Bouquet {Anna Kuperberg}, Farm House & Chandeliers {Snippet & Ink}

Summer Bride {Style Me Pretty}, Green Apples & Monograms {Jose Villa}

Rustic & Romantic Invitations {Style Me Pretty}, Seating Garlands {June Bug Weddings}

I {heart} Italy

2010-11-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

I am finally recovering and catching up on life after a fall trip to Italy. My husband and I travelled with another couple and had so many adventures (and mis-adventures) to hold me over until our next vacay. We started in Rome and took the train to Florence. It was chilly and rainy for the most part but the sun graciously came out on our day trip around Tuscany. We stopped in achingly quaint town's and narrow cobblestone streets surrounded by the green rolling hills that every guide book had deemed a "must see".

Following Florence, one train ride, and one twisty car ride, we arrived in the surreal city of Positano. Even though I had poured over pictures, nothing could prepare me for the dreaminess of this city cropping out of the mountainside. No sane person would have looked at this place and thought, this would be a great place to build a city. But it takes dreamers to make the impossible happen and thus we have the fortune to float in the aquamarine sea and look back at Positano. We stayed at the Hotel Marincanto which is the best hotel in the area - second only to Le Sirenuse (down the street and 5 times the price). I tried my best to capture all of this. While it comes close, it is best to go see for yourself...

Perfect way to start the day...

Santa Maria Assunta

Sunrise Over Positano

Sunset Over Positano

Vatican Museum

Trevi Fountain

St. Peters Basilica

One of many cute shops in Tuscany

Bridal Jewelry

2010-09-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

I am all about details. So as a bride, Perfect Details proved to be the perfect site for my bridal jewelry.

These Jardin Old Hollywood Teardrop earrings are glamorous and timeless. They are perfect for a variety of styles of wedding dresses. And yes, you can totally wear them again! I have!

For the perfect vintage wedding dress, the Christina Garcia Filigree Bridal Chandelier earrings. They are so feminine and delicate!

If you haven't already checked out Haute Bride, run, don't walk. And if you don't live near San Francisco, visit their web site and lust after their glam jewelry and accessories. You can find Haute Bride jewelry on Perfect Details. I know I'm already wed but I still have my eye on this bracelet.

Red Berry & Country Wedding

2010-09-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

I love when I find awesome blogs that inspire me! It's even better when I find two awesome blogs to inspire me.

Leslie, from A Creative Mint, not only comes up with the most amazing color palettes and has a knack for finding the perfect items and photographing them just so! Her photos have kick started more than a few of my inspiration boards.

As a newlywed and busy professional, I have maken it a point to make an effort to learn how to cook. I watch some of my friends in amazement as they grab this and that and whip up a delicious meal so effortlessly. I'm not going to lie, cooking is a chore, but I love when I make something that makes my husband rave. Katie's blog, What Katie Ate, provides inspiration (and recipes) that make me want to run to the kitchen and whip up a gorgeous meal. Her photography skills rival her cooking skills. I also really dig the new natural trend in culinary and food photography as opposed to the highly polished finish look. The imperfect Double Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova Cake was the perfect balance of casual elegance to drive my inspiration board.

Double Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova Cake {What Katie Ate}

Butcher Paper Place Card {Jose Villa}

Red Thread & Twine {A Creative Mint}

Berry Baskets {Martha Stewart Weddings}

Bride {Style Me Pretty}

Vintage Lace Wedding Theme

2010-09-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

It's the dress that could have launched a thousand ships! When I came across this lacy Alex Perry dress on This Is Glamorous I tried to come up with a million realistic situations that I could find myself in where this dress would be appropriate. Too much for the office?

Lace Dress {Alex Perry}

Doily Place Card {This Is Glamorous}

Lacy Invitation {Ceci New York}

Delicate Lace Cake {Martha Stewart Weddings}

Lace Crackers {Martha Stewart Weddings}

White & Amber Rustic Wedding

2010-09-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had some girl friends in town and I used it as an opportunity to play tour guide and visit one of my favorite places - Napa Valley wine country. The weather was just warm enough without being scorching as can happen this time of year. The unseasonably cool summer in Northern California meant that the grapes were still fat on the vine. We spent a perfect lazy summer day sipping wine and nibbling on figs, cheese, and heirloom tomato salads. So serene and indulgent!

This White & Amber Rustic Wedding Inspiration Board captures the wine country ambiance. I love rustic elegance and the raw, natural feel of all the elements. I am also obsessed with finding some amber bottles for my house for decoration!

Amber & Bell Jar Table Setting {100 Layer Cake}, Amber Bottles & Old Fonts {A Creative Mint}, Floral Bridal Headpiece {Mignonne shop on Etsy}, Cake {Martha Stewart Weddings}, Fig & Bread {Jodi Miller Photography}

Black & White Wedding Theme

2010-09-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Life has been so hectic. I have barely had time to maintain a social life, much less devote time to my blog! As those of you who blog know, it takes a lot of time and attention. But I have managed to find a morsel of time and find inspiration in this Black & White Wedding Inspiration Board. It is sophisticated with just the slightest hint of edge - love the black nail polish and paper flowers. And of course, chandeliers!

Top Row: Oreo Cookie Cake {Kevin Sharkey from Coco + Kelley}, Black & White Bride {Davina + Daniel Photography}

Middle Row: Black Bouquet {Enchanted Florist from Inspired By This}, Paper Boutonniere {Lauryl Lane}, Chalkboard & Paper Flowers {Hugh Forte from Inspired By This}

Bottom Row: Chandeliers {Jose Villa}, Typewriter {Inspired By This}

Grapefruit Pink & Champagne Wedding Inspiration Board

2010-01-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

This board was inspired by the gorgeous bride from Elizabeth Messina. I love her romantic loose curls and her adorable paper crown. Her look is soft and sweet and the pink grapefruit and champagne sorbet was a perfect complement to the mood.

Bride from Elizabeth Messina
Pink Grapefruit and Champagne Sorbet from This Is Glamorous photography by William Meppem

Vintage Shoes Bridal Shoes from Jennifer S Rau Photography

Paper Wreath by Dana Barbieri from This is Glamorous

Donate To Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Through Invitations by Ajalon

2010-01-20T22:10:00.000-08:00

Invitation by Ajalon is donating 100% of the price of every letterpress wedding invitation sample package to Doctors Without Borders. It is a wonderful way to assist in the relief efforts. To help you decide which invitation best fits your style and budget, visit their guide to printing techniques that they recently posted on their blog.

You can go here to order your samples.

Lemon & Sage Wedding

2010-01-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

The storm door in California has swung wide open but my thoughts have turned to summer. The gorgeous bridal bouquet, taken by Anna Kuperberg, in this wedding inspiration board inspired the lemon and sage theme. I love the succulents and leaves that are prominent in the decor. The soft palette and lush flowers are fresh and soothing. Did I mention how much I love the bouquet!

Bay Laurels and Ivory Ribbon Chairs from InStyle Weddings

Wedding Invitation by Ceci New York

Bridal Bouquet photo by Anna Kuperberg and created by Soulflower

Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings

A Quintessential New England Meal

2010-01-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

When visiting the in-laws in New Hampshire, it is tradition to take a trip to Robert's Maine Grill in Kittery, Maine, for lobster. The seafood is so fresh and the ambiance is so cozy. It is a perfect place for lazy meals and it is one of the few places that I feel utterly relaxed.

Set on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Robert's is quintessential New England.

Coffered ceilings, natural wood floors and tables, and an open floor plan.

I love all the nautical detail in the restaurant! The tin pails, that hold silverware, menus, and napkins, are later used for dumping shells. I adore the linen curtains that look like sail cloth and are tied with rope.

A large plate of Steamers In Allagash White Beer. Delicious! Also, a side of crackers with salmon and dill spread served in a blue tin plate.

1 1/2 pound lobsters (again)! My husband is a pro at cracking while I still find it a little squeamish. Note the lack of bib. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend catching a meal here and bring the camera!

I {heart} Wedding Monograms

2010-01-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

Every time I revisit my wedding photos I find another detail to share! My love of monograms is no secret and I love the symbolism it holds as "two become one". Taking on a new last name was also a very personal, and very unexpected bittersweet experience for me. I just didn't realize how much of an impact changing my last name would have on me and did not anticipate the twinge of loss I felt. I am of course happy to be a Mrs. and looking forward to sharing a name with my children, but I couldn't let go of my last name completely and changed it to my middle name.

For the wedding, I wanted my husband and I to each have a keepsake that we could each carry. I ordered monogramed handkerchiefs with our married initials - blue thread for me and black thread for him. Here is a picture of mine...

New England Feast

2010-01-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

My husband, being the New Englander that he is, loves lobster. His father tells us that when he was a young boy, lobster's were plentiful and thus an inexpensive meal eaten daily. He says he had so much lobster back in the day that he doesn't care much for it now! While we have eaten our annual quota of seafood, we are still making our traditional trip up to Maine for...yes, more lobster and steamers.

On a side note, my husband got me a new MacBook (which I am typing on right now!) which has made me very, very happy. Remember, happy wife, happy life! I can't wait to share all the pictures I have taken during my New England trip but I will have to wait as I forgot to bring the UBS cord that connects the camera to the laptop. Off to the coast!

Postcard From Boston

2010-01-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

{Faneuil Hall}

I have left the temperate winters of California for Boston. Well, for a week at least. I am visiting the in-laws and taking a two day trip to Boston proper for some sightseeing, shopping, and dining - weather permitting. It is chilly in the Northeast. I am really looking forward to finding some cute boutiques and antique stores. I planned ahead and left room in my suitcase in the event that I find a lovely vintage piece or a nice wool coat. Newbury Street is on my list and I can't wait to take pictures of some of the lovely brownstones that line the street.

{Newbury Street}

I am also looking forward to walking around the campus of Harvard University. I should note that I am not a Harvard alumnus but I love college campuses. They have some of the greatest architecture and grounds. Plus, I will always be a student at heart. While most people ran from academia after their 16 years were up (or 18 and up depending on masters or PhD) I was sad to leave the hallowed halls behind. There is such a great energy and yes, a sense of idealism, that made you believe that you could change the world and that you had many adventures ahead of you.

{Harvard University}

Off to bed so I can hit the gym before I head out to wander the city!

Pink & Black Cameo Wedding Inspiration Board

2010-01-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

It has been a very long time since I have posted a wedding inspiration board. I have gotten sidetracked by the beautiful home decor I have been finding but a visit to Martha Stewart Weddings inspired me to create this Pink & Black Cameo Wedding Inspiration Board. The board centered around the super stylish cake that is all about the details. I absolutely love the ribbon and lace icing. Like the cake, Cameos are classic, but paired with a bold color such as black, you add a modern twist.

The flower girl dresses are very romantic and girly and come in pink. I loved it so much I had my flower girls wear it! The swanky wedding lounge (taken by photographer Jose Villa) is also a perfect pairing of vintage - think chandeliers, and modern - think velvet lounge chairs and throw pillows. This space is one of my all time favorite wedding venues!

Flower Girl Dresses by Us Angels
Wedding Lounge Photo by Jose Villa
Invitations by Ceci New York
Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings
Table Setting from Martha Stewart Weddings

New Year's Resolutions For The Mind, Body, and Soul

2010-01-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

I must admit, I was a little sad to see 2009 come to a close. The year had been good to me. I married the man of my dreams, found professional success, began the house hunting process, and met many wonderful new friends. I finally began to feel at peace with every aspect of my life and felt both optimistic and confident. But at midnight, as I bade 2009 a fond farewell, I welcomed the beginnings of 2010 and the promise a new year brings.

The next morning, while snowboarding down the Sierra Mountains in a formidable white-out storm, my husband and I contemplated the resolutions we would make and thought we would create personal balance by making a resolution for the mind, body, and soul. I am hoping these resolutions will not only bring personal growth to all aspects of my life but also make me more deliberate in the choices I make and the direction I go. I'm reminded of one of my favorite lines from the movie, The Good Girl: "Is this your last best chance? Or are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins?"

I am still working on my resolutions and will keep you posted. Until then, I hope you are living your dreams or taking the steps towards achieving them!

Christmas In The OC

2009-12-28T22:46:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas I visited relatives down in Orange County, California. I must admit, it felt a little strange walking around the beach in flip flops on Christmas day under the warm Southern California sun. I was excited for the opportunity to use the DSLR camera that my husband had gotten me to take some pictures at Huntington Beach. Hope this brings a little sunshine to your day!

Wedding Tents & Lighting By Zephyr Tents

2009-12-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

I absolutely adore weddings under huge, billowy tents. Especially when they are done with such elegance as Zephyr Tents. They do everything from tenting, lighting, and furnishings. They are based out of Berkeley, California and recently posted a wedding that they staged right down the street from me at the Menlo Circus Club in Menlo Park, California. It was held in August on the polo grounds at the private club for 400 guests. What a beautiful venue for a summer wedding!

Tents evoke a very celebratory mood. It is also a great way to combine the outdoors and indoors. I love the Adirondack chairs away from the tents as a quiet place for respite.

A very romantic walkway in to the venue. I love the billowy draping.

I love the pale pinks and gold in the centerpiece and table setting. Very warm and rich. I also like how the centerpiece is not fussy.

The cake is gorgeous. Again, very simple but so elegant. The gold chiavari chairs are almost a must - don't you think?

The tent transitions beautifully from day to night.

How much fun does this wedding look? Dinner and dancing and maybe a quick escape outside on the grounds to steal a kiss under the stars.

Southern Weddings Wisteria Gift Giveaway!

2009-12-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Southern Weddings is having a Gift Giveaway from Wisteria, one of my favorite home furniture and decor sites! The gift is a gorgeous 2-gallon, nickel-finished beverage dispenser - perfect for weddings, or any other entertaining. You could also have an at home spa day and chill water in ice cubes and cucumber slices while you mud mask and exfoliate away!

Southern Weddings was one of my go-to blogs for wedding planning. They offer so many great ideas and inspirational photos. I love that they love Wisteria, one of my favorite home furniture and decor sites. They carry unique, artisan pieces for those who love a more vintage, rustic style. For their giveaway, all you have to do is visit Wisteria and post what your favorite piece is on the Southern Weddings Giveaway page. How easy is that?

My absolute favorite is the Lounging French Chaise. Doesn't it look perfect for collapsing in with a glass of wine after a hectic day or curling up on under a Ralph Lauren Cable Cashmere Throw with a good book and cup tea?

Live Music On A Rainy Night with Joe Purdy

2009-12-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

I realize that I have neglected all my various social media interactions. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of energy my job has been demanding and the small and large crisis occurring in the lives of those close to me. Sometimes, after an entire day of tweaking spreadsheets, sending/reading emails, and creating endless documents, I just want to come home and turn off all electronic devices - namely my laptop. Especially with the early darkness of winter, it seems as if life has become a continuous grind punctuated with the occasional trips to the gym, holiday shopping at the mall (draining!), and phone calls to friends. So this weekend was a wonderful detour from winter dreariness.

One of my husband's favorite singer is Joe Purdy. He is an independent artist who self-releases all his albums but popular enough to have had his songs appear on numerous commercials ("Wash Away" on the Dawn commercial with all the adorable critters being cleansed of oil) and television shows ("The City" on Grey's Anatomy). His old world sensibilities and vintage style made me comment to my husband, "He looks like he stepped straight out of the Civil War". "Funny," my husband said, "that's the cover of his latest album."

Despite his commercial success, he insist on keeping it grass root and has reasonable concert ticket prices in order to remain accessible to his fans. While his CD's are great, he is one of those musicians you have to see live. He is not only incredibly talented, playing guitar, piano, and harmonica, but so genuine. I believe every emotion, every story that he sings and I believe him when he says how honored he is to have us as his audience. I think his honesty and integrity really stands out in a time where people in the public eye are, for the most part, completely manufactured.

His music made the cold rain romantic and I left refreshed and inspired! The concert also reminded me of how much I love live music. It got me thinking about how I tend to not like live music at weddings. But I think that bias comes from movies that have parodies of really, really bad wedding bands. If done right, I think live music at a wedding can be absolutely wonderful. I guess this will be something to consider for our vow renewals. HA!

Vintage Garden - White, Bluebell & Gold Wedding

2009-12-08T23:10:00.001-08:00

Some time ago I had posted photos of of the wonderful floral creations that Jeeryn, of Tanjeeryn Designs, had up on her blog from my wedding. I also had promised to follow up with more pictures. Well, I am close to wading through the thousands of wedding pictures and have more wedding detail pictures to share!

My bouquet was created with a mix of cattleya, phalaenopsis, and mini cymbidium orchids. I had originally thought of using a locket as a detail but this gorgeous crystal pin that Jeeryn found went perfect with my dress that had crystal detailing. She worked so closely with me and bless her, read every email and looked at every picture that I sent her. I think finding the right people to work with during your wedding is critical. She even listened as I blew off wedding drama and stress.

The sweetheart table was a complete suprise! I really had no idea what Jeeryn was planning to do other than reuse the urns that were used at the alter. It was perfect in its simplicity. I believe one of the first things that I had told her was the I loved candles. She really listened to me.

This was a neat aerial shot of the tables taken by my photographer Erica Berger. Further in the post is an eye level view of the cool vintage urns that Jeeryn found. I don't like clutter and really fussy things so I did not want a ton of things on the table. I love how everything was just clean and elegant.

This is the seating chart that I created with a neat cork board with cute pins. The picture is unfortunatley not the best quality and much of the detail is lost but hopefully I can find one that is crisper. I hand embossed the cards with various stamps and printed the seating chart on each card and scattered a couple of our engagement photos in sephia.

The escort cards took the most time to create as they were entirely hand made. First, I embossed the cards with a chandelier. Second, I hand wrote each name in gold ink. Finally, I added crystals to indicate meal choice. Jeeryn made these adorable moss covered tabletops that they sat on. There is an additional picture below of the escort cards. The moss was also used for the candy bar, complete with moss balls. It was all incredibly charming!

Here, again, are Jeeryn's photos. Everything turned out even better than I had anticipated and I enjoyed every second of the wedding planning. I can't wait to finally close on my house and start hosting parties and decorating!

Winter Wonderland Wedding In Banff, Canada

2009-12-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

My family and I took a trip to Banff, Canada years ago and I can't wait to go back. It is enchanting and pristine. My mom even drank right out of the stream, at the suggestion of our guide and to our horror. OMG parasites! But she was fine. The lakes and rivers were impossibly emerald green, turquoise and crystal clear. It really made you feel alive!

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotels really left an impression on me and I recently checked in to their site and wow! It looks even more enchanting covered in snow. What a wonderful place to have a winter wonderland wedding. Roaring fires, candlelit dinner and dancing and a cozy night of...

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel looks straight out of a fairytale. Doesn't it look so grand?

All these turrets and rooms to explore and get lost in! An awesome backdrop for a romantic winter wedding.

While it might be snowy and cold outside, the glowing interior feels warm and lovely.

The Cascade Ballroom has old world glamor and elegance! The chandeliers and ceiling frescoes are gorgeous.

What better way to relax before the big day than to soak in this gorgeous bath at the Willow Stream Spa. It looks so peaceful and indulgent.

I would devote an entire day lounging in the pools. And even better, for you anniversaries, what better place to celebrate than the place where you were married? Returning to commemorate your special day would be a welcomed annual celebration!

Glamorous Wedding Table Detail from Lux Candles

2009-12-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

Nothing sets a romantic and intimate mood like the dreamy, buttery glow of candlelight. Not only does is create ambiance, but it also makes everyone look fantastic. While glass tea lights or candelabras can be used to great effect, I found these lovely ornate candles from Lux Candles that can add an extra little glamor for an elegant wedding table setting. The candles are a bit of a splurge but you can keep them and reuse them to decorate your new house.

I love the crown jewel on this candle! The little pearls are so delicate and such a great touch.

This would be a perfect for a monogram-themed wedding. While you don't want to overdo the monogram decor, this is a small, unexpected touch.

These next two candles are very vintage and can be mixed and matched for variety. There are numerous jeweled and color options to choose from. Absolutely fabulous!

Affordable Letterpress Invitations from Invitations by Ajalon

2009-11-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

My love of letterpress is no secret so imagine my delight when Trish, of Invitations by Ajalon - a small, family-owned letterpress printer in Northern California, contacted me about the wonderful special that they are currently offering on wedding invitations! While affordable letterpress may sound like an oxymoron, 100 invitations & enclosure cards for $439 proves otherwise. Their invitations are customizable and they offer a variety of service options to create a truly personal, artisan invitation. If that wasn't amazing enough, their invitations are printed on 100% recycled cotton paper using soy-based ink!

The "Jessica" suite of invitations, inspired by Mendhi body art, is one of my favorites. While I adore the pink ink, you could also opt for a two or three color invite and use bright blues and greens with a peacock feather themed wedding.

The "Monica" suite is elegant and classic. The sample below was created with espresso ink in Chopin Script and Cotillion.

I absolutely adore the "Christine" set. It is simple yet sophisticated - perfect for a black tie wedding. I can also envision this for the elegant barn weddings I have posted.

The "Cathryn" suite is very feminine and vintage. I love the idea of using monograms as a wedding detail as it is very symbolic of two becoming one.

Elegant Black & White Barn Wedding Through the Lens of Anna Kuperberg

2009-11-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

I am constantly blown away by the creativity and beauty that is generated from the collaboration between brides, grooms, and wedding vendors. Hosting a wedding is truly and art. One of my favorite wedding artist is Anna Kuperberg who never ceases to amaze. She is one of the most talented wedding photographers and her ability to capture and frame moments make them epic. A kiss is not just a kiss through the lens of Anna. This wedding at Saint Lucia Preserve in the Carmel Valley is an example of how weddings can be the perfect storm for artistry.

The lighting makes the barn look magical. I love how the doors open up to sumptuous draping and chandeliers inside.

While this picture was most likely staged, it almost looks as if Anna caught a sneak kiss behind the drapes. It's also a nice silhouette to mirror their black and white theme.

I love long tables. To me, they feel stately and grand. I absolutely love the branches entwined above and the glass baubles hanging from the branches.

The things they can do with cakes! The shoe is a replica of a Manolo Blahnik!

Another shot of the tables. I love the candles all down the center of the table. Sometimes big frilly floral centerpieces inhibit conversation as it cuts off guests across from each other. I think centerpieces should be low enough, or in tall vases, to allow guests to see each other and engage without flowers at eye level. That is why I think the hanging floral piece is genius!

To all the wedding vendors out there, thank you for helping people celebrate one of the most important days of their lives!

Holiday Decoration Inspiration

2009-11-26T13:11:00.001-08:00

I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I am finally at a point in my life where I feel accomplished, content and hopeful. I am especially grateful for my husband who provides constant support and friendship. It is both comforting and empowering to have someone by your side to navigate life and dream big.

Our next big step will be finally buying a house. We have put a bid on a short sale and it will take potentially three months or more to even find out if the bank will accept our offer. So until then, I will live vicariously through holiday catalogs and gather inspiration for next year.

Photo: Restoration Hardware

Photo: Restoration Hardware

DIY Vintage Glass Bottles For Your Vanity

2009-11-23T21:40:00.001-08:00

Yet another DIY project on my "To Do" list - vintage glass bottle labels. What an easy way to add style to your vanity or bathroom! Just transfer your lotions and what-nots from boring bottles to pretty glass bottles with vintage stickers or etching. It's also an environmentally friendly way to reduce your plastic bottle consumption by enabling you to buy bulk products and fill your bottles as you go.

I found these Label Rub-Ons from Paper Source. Looks easy enough and only $6.95!

You can even use simple glass canisters like these ones from Pottery Barn if you don't have the time (or stamina) to scour antique stores for old bottles.

You could also use these rub ons for wedding decor. For example, use on a larger votive as a table number or on apothecary jars for a candy bar. So many clever uses!

Stylish Yet Budget Friendly DIY Decorating Project

2009-11-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, as I've started compiling home decor ideas and inspiration, I've found that I've been re-assessing my attitude towards wallpaper. I think done right, it can have a wonderful effect, however, when it goes wrong it goes very wrong. But I've been dying to try this wallpapered cabinet idea.

I've been eying this gorgeous charcoal damask print wallpaper from Brocade Home. But at $129 for one 27" w x 30" roll that covers 44 square feet it's a little pricey.

So instead of wallpaper, these specialty papers from Paper Source, that start as low as $1.95 for a 12" x 12" sheet, are a stylish yet budget friendly alternative.

I love this antique style "Lokta Lotus Cream on Ivory Fine Paper".

How fun is this "Frame Wallpaper Pink Overlay"? This would be cute for a super girly room.

Typically I like classic or vintage colors and patterns but this "Raffle Leaf in Pool & Red" is feminine but a little edgy. It's a little country and a little rock n' roll! I am not sure I could pull it off but this color combo with some bold decor would be awesome!

Decadent Bathroom

2009-11-21T13:55:00.001-08:00

I popped on over to Dwellings & Décor and OH MY GAWD!!! What a devastatingly gorgeous bathroom. This is a sanctuary to luxuriate in and where pampering is not only deliberate but also demanded. I'm usually not a big fan of wallpaper but this is not wallpaper this is...this is art! And where to start, the chandelier, the venetian mirror, the vintage vanity, and the deep soaking tub - quadruple sigh. And what a clever and decorative way to hand your robe and nightgown using a wire mannequin.

Romantic Country Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-11-19T23:10:00.001-08:00

I've been on a country kick since the CMA's and have Taylor Swift on continuous loop. I've also had rustic barns on my mind as fall has finally settled in to Northern California. It was chilly this morning and all I could think of was cozy sweater dresses, hot cocoa, and fireside cuddling with the one you love. This Romantic Country Wedding Inspiration board was inevitable.

Top Row: Taylor Swift in "Love Story" music video, Country Sunset - Photographer Phillipp Klinger, Rustic Barn from Julie Atwood

Middle Row: Chandelier (unknown), Bronze Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Cowboy Boots from Julie Harris Photography

Bottom Row: Invitations from Style Me Pretty by Wiley Valentine, Horseshoe Escort Cards from Terry Way Photography

DIY Wedding Invitations With Paper Source's At-Home Letterpress Machine!

2009-11-19T22:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while at work, I checked my gmail account and there was an email from Paper Source titled, "It's Here - the New Home Letterpress Machine". I let out an audible squeal but put myself in check as the two male colleagues that share my work space and sit directly behind me would probably not understand (or appreciate) the enormity of what I had just read! I immediately forwarded the email to Jeeryn at Tanjeeryn Designs and asked if she had seen this. She would appreciate this news. Not only had she heard, but she also forwarded me the how-to video from the manufacturer. She is awesome.

I have been too busy this week to head over to Paper Source but I am dying to see the new Home Letterpress Machine.

If this had been out when I was planning my wedding I would have totally made my invites with it. It would be a lot of work but what an awesome tool. I'm not sure how much you can customize and what the quality is like but since they discontinued the Gocco, I'm sure crafty people will be jumping all over this.

Romona Keveza Wedding Gown

2009-11-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

I've had wedding on the brain since talking to my friend the other day about her wedding. One of my most favorite parts of planning was trying on wedding dresses. I tried on close to 50 or 60 dresses - much to the dismay of many salon girls. But it's your dress and you want to get it just right. So after our phone call I popped on over to the Knot and saw this gorgeous one shoulder Romona Keveza gown...

Dreamy coming and going!

Wanderlust

2009-11-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Up until today it has still been summer in California. Yesterday was 80 balmy degrees. Today, however, is cooler and overcast with a chance of rain in the forecast. I am also at home in bed trying to fight off a cold. To make myself feel better I have been indulging my wanderlust that kicked in to high gear as my sister and I discussed our summer travel plans. We were both recently married this summer but had to delay our honeymoons so we thought it would be fun to travel to Europe next year together with our husbands. She has never been to Europe, or anywhere outside the US, and I want to see the absolute delight on her face as she sees Paris for the first time. I love my sister so much and want her to experience the awe and excitement of traveling in foreign countries.

We are thinking of starting out in Paris and then either splitting up so she and her husband can go to Spain while my husband and I go to Provence and the Amalfi Coast. Here are some indulgent travel locales.

Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy, is a place so breath-taking that it is unreal. I think if I were to actually be able to afford a stay here, my entire stay would be surreal. These are only a sampling of the amazing views, decor and ambiance of the hotel. Visit the site for more inspiring photos to indulge your own wanderlust.

The entire city is literally carved out of the mountain side and travel guides often suggest to leave the heels at home as it is necessary to hike up steep stairs to get anywhere. My uncle has recounted his driving experience in the Amalfi Coast as white-knuckled terror. He has only done it once and now relies on taxis to get him and my aunt around.

This is an actual travelers photo of the view from their room! What did I tell you? Unreal!

I absolutely adore the brass mermaid room keys! It is a very cool detail that fits with the old world luxury and quaintness. Key cards should be left to ultra-modern, urban hotels.

One of my favorite travel sites is Alastair Sawday's site. There is an "Inspire Me" section I visit every once in a while to see what pops up. Today, one of the places that popped up was The Kingston Estate in the South Devon countryside of England. This estate is straight out of a Jane Austen novel. The words "sweeping" and "epic" come to mind.

You have the option to stay in a period suite or a self-catering cottage. This is a period suite with a claw foot tub.

If I ever have the fortune to visit the Maldives I will make my way to the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. Positano is surreal but the Maldives are otherworldly. If you want to literally "get away from it all", this is the place to go. The aerial photo taken of the resort should confirm the isolation factor.

It was difficult deciding which pictures to post as I would have loved to post them all, but the Beach Villa living room was an obvious choice. I love indoor/outdoor spaces and the thought of warm nights in a living room where I could still have my feet in the sand is dreamy! I live in California so maybe this concept isn't too crazy - although the beach is 30 minutes away.

More open air spaces at the resort's restaurant. Of course I love the chandeliers.

A water suite where you can roll out of bed and jump in the ocean off your deck. The beach villas have pools, but why would you want to swim in the pool with those crystal blue waters right out your door?

The Shisha Bar at The Four Seasons appears to overlook the end of the earth.

All Things Lovely: It's all Peaches and Cream

2009-11-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

All Things Lovely: It's all Peaches and Cream

I absolutely love these wedding details! I am a big fan of incorporating non-floral elements in to centerpieces and decor, especially fruits and succulents. The photos were taken by the husband and wife duo Justin & Mary Marantz. I adore husband and wife wedding photographers! It must be amazing to work together and share the same passion. Visit their blog for some amazing wedding photos and thanks to All Things Lovely for turning me on to yet another wonderful find!

DIY Home Decor Projects

2009-11-01T23:09:00.000-08:00

After many successful DIY wedding projects and one dining table and buffet refurbishing, I feel like I am ready to tackle more projects. It's a nice creative outlet to balance my very uncreative profession. Here are some home decor DIY projects that I have been thinking of...of course, I still need to find a house first.

This lovely headboard DIY project is compliments of Country Home Magazine. It's as easy as cutting a nice curvy frame out of thick heavy weight cardboard, painting and stenciling. The stenciling seems like the most difficult part as you would need to get an even coat of paint on all those intricate details. But what an inexpensive way to create a stylish headboard! You can also buy stylish adhesives at a craft store if the stenciling is too challenging. The best part is, you can easily change it every so often with a simple coat of paint.

I am a sucker for elegant packaging. Restoration Hardware used to have these great faux vintage bottles for their lotions and bath gels. You can find any number of bottles at craft stores or antique shops or thrift stores and either stencil or create your own vintage labels for your bath products. These bottles below are from a DIY article from Country Living.

This cool DIY bulletin board was created by one of my favorite bloggers, Lynn of 2 {Excited} Nests. You can get the step by step on her "What I did with the Fabric!" post. It's such a cool idea but she might have more patience than I as my first thought was, wow those are a lot of upholstery tacks. While this is one of the coolest projects, I may not realistically have the patience to pull it off.

The Importance of Staging a Home - Part II

2009-11-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Carrie Leber of bloom*acious also blogged about the importance of staging a home. And she makes an excellent point in noting that it's important to stage a house to look lived in, but in a totally stylish way. It is, as she points out, a science. A home that is too "stage-y" can feel cold and un-lived in. It's a delicate balance.

Here are some pictures Carrie posted of a well staged home. Very clean and very stylish but a few key pieces casually tossed in provides a cozy, lived in feel.

The Importance of Staging A House

2009-10-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Now that I've been to a billion open houses, I can say with certainty that investing in a good staging company is a must if you are selling your home unless it has already been professionally decorated. Honestly, the difference between a staged house and an un-staged house is so stark that I wonder why people don't do it. Sure it cost a few thousand dollars but in the grand scheme of things, it can drive up the offer price by tens of thousands of dollars. Professional stagers also know how to make a house appeal to a broad audience and are remarkably good at configuring furniture in even the oddest of spaces. It is an art.

Here is an example of a house that was not staged.

Below is an example of a house that was staged.

Most people live very cluttered lives and when you are selling a house, you are selling a dream. People don't want their dreams cluttered by your knick-knacks and tchotchkes. People also don't want to see dated and shabby furniture. Additionally, the magic realtors now work with their photographers is amazing. It is almost a disservice as often times the home doesn't live up to the super photoshopped version of reality. Oh and back to my point about staging your home, the first picture of the unstaged home is listed at $799,000 and the second picture of the staged home was listed at $599,000 but judging by the picture one would easily assume it were the other way around.

Rustic Idaho Wedding

2009-09-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

I know I tend to speak in hyperbole but seriously this wedding I came upon on Style Me Pretty is amazing! Amazing doesn't even describe it... stunning, heavenly, ravishing (yes, I used a Thesaurus). The whole concept, the intimacy, the personal touches. It's so beautiful and meaningful. You can drool over all the pictures at Stephanie Fay Photography. She has some amazingly epic shots of the bride and groom.

The wedding was held at the bride's family's house in Idaho. The concept was a rustic church and the bride's younger brother built the entire ceremony site! Creating a "space" outdoors using the essence of the indoors is just awesome. And those doors! Incredible!

Green Wedding Shoes - A Wedding Blog After My Own Heart

2009-09-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to find another wonderful wedding blog! Jen from Green Wedding Shoes compiles some of the most inspiring real wedding photos and she likes a lot of the same photographers, event designers, etc. that I do so natch I love her stuff. Seeing the weddings on her site makes me want a wedding do-over!

I still haven't had my Trash The Dress photo session yet and after running across this beautiful engagement photo session by photographer Clayton Austin on her blog, I am thinking I may try something a little more stylistic for my TTD shoot.

A Fall Wedding

2009-09-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

The fall in Northern California can, at times, be the hottest time of the year. It's a time known as Indian summer. Like hitting the snooze on summer and getting just those last few moments of warm buttery sun and lazy sunsets. But unlike July, there is just the slightest hint of fall, with cooler nights and crisp mornings. Fall is a very nostalgic time for me (as I suppose it is with many). It always feels like the beginning of a school year, full of promise and excitement for things that lie ahead. But now that I am no longer a student and there is no cycle of beginning and endings, just continuous days of work - it leaves me feeling nostalgic for that cycle.

This year, having just recently been married, fall brings a different sense of nostalgia. I am finding that I haven't been able to leave the wedding planning behind and that I am now reminded of my favorite wedding venue, the Atwood Ranch, Julie Atwood Events' venue in Glen Ellen, California. The barn has rustic elegance and Julie Atwood Events is simply amazing - but also a small fortune. Worth every penny if you can afford it. For the rest of us - we will have to settle at these pictorial peeks in to idyllic weddings...

I found these images on the blog Green Wedding Shoes taken by Shelly Kroeger. Dreamy! And you know how much I love chandeliers!

I {heart} My Husband

2009-09-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

While we have only been married for less than two months, my husband and I have been together for 3 years. Tomorrow is our 3rd year anniversary and he surprised me with this...

...a Sony α230 DSLR.

Isn't he wonderful? I have been wanting a DSLR for a while now as I have always loved photography. I still remember developing film in my high school dark room and ruining all my clothes from splashing chemicals on them. I miss it. I still adore my dad's old manual 35 MM Canon but digital offers such endless possibilities and allows you to take thousands of photos at no cost. Imagine doing that with film! I am so inspired to take pictures that we might have to take a trip to the coast or the mountains this weekend! I can't wait to share them all!!!

What To Wear To Weddings

2009-08-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

With eight weddings this past year and three more on the horizon, I am desperately seeking cute dresses to wear to each event. Admittedly, I have worn the same dress to more than one wedding (I would break the bank if I didn't) but have the opportunity to buy a couple more classic dresses that I could wear not only to weddings but parties, graduations, and a variety of other social events.

One wedding will be in the summer and the other will be in the winter, so two very different dresses. I have found some cute summer dresses that are a little out of my price range but will provide inspiration:

I love everything about this Roksanda Ilincic Asymmetric Mesh Dress - gorgeous color, great movement, and one appropriately sexy shoulder.

I've really been in to ruffles lately and ordered two ruffled button up shirts. If you are to believe the magazines, ruffles are the latest trend. This Milly Lizi Halter Dress not only has ruffles but is a gorgeous "peacock" green/blue color. This would be a great beach wedding dress.

This Jill Stuart dress is my absolute favorite! I love gauzy, etheral dresses that float around your body and pink is a great color on me, especially when I'm tan. The color is "ballet" and the strappy ballet inspired heels are perfect - wish I knew the designer.

This Hervé Léger Scoop Neck Bandage Dress would be a total splurge for a glam wedding. You would also have to have the figure and tons of Spanx to pull this one off. The only accessory that you would need for this dress is a glass of champagne and a sharply dressed man.

Trash The Dress

2009-08-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Stopped by Tinywater Photography, one of my favorite wedding photography sites, and saw this HOT Trash The Dress Session!

I absolutely love the tone and colors of this picture. And how cool is it how the photographer captured their reflection in the water.

House Hunting Continues

2009-08-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

I have been a little neglectful with my blogging, but between my job, moving (in to my parent's house temporarily, nonetheless), and spending weekends going to open houses, I barely have enough time to socialize, much less blog. My husband and I have come close to the breaking point at times while driving around neighborhoods looking at ridiculously overpriced Bay Area homes and living out of our suitcase. I so look forward to finally settling in to my new home.

While taking a break from scouring real estate pages this afternoon, I re-energized myself with a visit to dwellings and decor. Rachel's latest find, The French Bedroom Company, is perfect eye candy for my French Decor obsession! Here are a sampling of pieces that she chose - it's too bad that the boutique is located all the way in the UK...

If I had a furniture/decor wish list, the gilded plush headboard in the far right picture would be on it.

It seems like black would be such a difficult color to pull off and would be disastrous if done improperly. However, the French Bedroom Company makes black look effortless and chic. I love the black chandelier. But you already knew that.

Gorgeous Outdoor Spaces

2009-08-09T22:24:00.001-07:00

It finally feels like summer in the Bay Area and I could actually wear a summer dress without getting goose bumps! To be honest, I get goose bumps any time it gets colder than 70 degrees so "cold" and "hot" is relative. In any case, the warm weather has me obsessing over outdoor spaces. I love lounging outside and it is my dream to have an outdoor fireplace and kitchen. I go back and forth on whether or not to have an enclosed space as I am NOT a fan of bugs and there is nothing worse than having your outdoor dinner interrupted by a wasp. But it is also nice to have the night sky above your head. Here are some finds for the day.

Wouldn't it be heavenly to end a hectic day by slipping in to this limestone spa by the water?

House Beautiful

A tropical retreat would make every day feel like a mini-vacay.

House Beautiful

I absolutely adore this rustic Provence in Napa Valley outdoor space. This patio begs for twilight wine sipping as the sun slips under the horizon and long nights with candlelight.

House Beautiful

This loggia is breezy and airy and the french doors create a nice flow from indoor to outdoor. It is a great space for entertaining as it encourages mingling between the inside and outside crowd.

House Beautiful

This rustic space from Decorology is so cozy and quaint. Since it is enclosed it makes a nice little space for the winter as well as summer for a year round retreat.

This veranda is a true blend of the outdoors and indoors. The vaulted ceilings and massive windows are perfect for an outdoor space with the comforts of indoor living. I love how the woods almost appear shrouded in mist, like a crisp autumn afternoon, and how the sun on the buttery curtains offsets the chill.

House Beautiful

Wedding China

2009-08-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Mister and I went to Macy's to return some gifts so we could complete our wedding china set. I love our Vera Wang "Lace" 5-Piece Place Setting and we get a bonus soup bowl!

I am hoping we manage to get a house by Thanksgiving so I can host my first holiday dinner on my new china. We decided on eight place settings for now, but that may not be enough as I have a pretty big extended family. We also purchased Marquis by Waterford "Allegra Platinum" wine goblets to go with our china. We decided to return the champagne glasses as we already have a huge set (purchased for my bridal shower) and because, in my experience, are the glasses that get broken most often. Here is the entire set...

On the agenda today is packing. My parents are coming over for a packing "dinner party". The Mister and I are not looking forward to moving and have procrastinated in a mah-jor way so we have accepted the parents invitation to help us pack. But first, I will have to troll all the real estate sites to look for any new houses that may have hit the market in the last 12 hours...

I {heart} Keys

2009-08-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

While I was looking for wedding jewelry I came across the Tiffany Keys Collection and suddenly I was seeing keys everywhere! I have always adored key decor for reasons unknown to me. Is it symbolic? I'm not sure but here are some of my favorite key pieces.

It all started with the Tiffany Keys Collection. Worn with multiple charms or layered with other necklaces, these keys are a nice piece of detail.

Napa Style is one of my favorite retailers and I love this Vigneron Cellar Key. Wouldn't it be fabulous if I could hang this in an actual wine cellar at my estate?

Pottery Barn has a set of seven vintage keys. So cute right?

I {heart} New England

2009-08-02T22:13:00.001-07:00

A couple years ago during the fall, on the way to New Hampshire to visit the future in-laws, my future husband and I stopped in Manchester Village and stayed the quintessentially New England Equinox Resort & Spa. It "has over 200 years of history, six different architectural styles, and 17 different structures; has been visited by four different American Presidents; served as a hotbed for American Revolutionaries; and stands as a monument to the American government's policy of expropriating private property for the common good".

We lucked out and received an upgrade to a townhome with a living room and fireplace, full kitchen, and separate bedroom, as they were upgrading the main building. It was like having our own apartment! And the deck off of the living room was perfect for watching the sunset. The grounds were gorgeous and we were catching the tail end of the fall leaves peaking. This aerial picture shows how the resort is nestled among the countryside.

Although the resort is grand and expansive, it manages to also feel cozy. There are sitting rooms with fireplaces that you can curl up next to with a hard cover book from their book shelves. If that isn't exciting enough, you can take lessons at the British School of Falconry and learn how to handle falcons. Crazy!

The "Great Room", which greets you as you walk in, is clean, crisp and just full of natural light. Amazing, right?

House Hunting Sundays

2009-08-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today I have a list of seven open houses for the Mister and I to go see. Hopefully the houses today will be semi-livable as the house we saw yesterday left us depressed and dejected. Even though I was born and raised in the Bay Area, I am still shocked at how outrageous real estate is in the area. However, the sun is shining and our future house is out there somewhere so off house hunting we go.

But first, for a little inspiration (or day dreaming) I visited on of my favorite blogs, My Romantic Home, and browsed through Cindy's dream homes. I love that she snaps pictures of cute houses around her home and during her travels. I absolutely adore Cape Cod style homes and this one on Martha's Vineyard is so dreamy!

Chateaux & Decor

2009-07-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

When my husband and I began house hunting we decided it would be wise to put off the honeymoon to save money for our down payment. While initially it was a little depressing, I have now found that it gives me something to look forward to. Our original honeymoon idea was Provence and/or the Amalfi Coast. In conducting my travel research, I have found that the gorgeous chateaux and inns in France are great sources of inspiration for my future home decor.

Hôtel Le Saint Laurent is located in Provence and has seven rooms and three suites that are each uniquely decorated. I am typically not a huge fan of wallpaper but their Chloe Room is so quaint! The mix of patterns is done in an understated way as to not make it look schizophrenic or too "matchy".

I have always been fascinated by fairy tales and I am always a sucker for period pieces - think Jane Austen books and Marie Antoinette. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that you can spend the night in real castles! One of my favorites is the Chateau de Massillan. There are twelve rooms all decorated by Birgit Israel Interiors and twenty four acres of parkland with herb gardens and a pond.

Imagine if you could recreate this courtyard at home. I think I would become a hostess extraordinaire! You really wouldn't have to do anything but pour wine and throw some cheese and nibblets on a plate and you have an instant afternoon garden party.

So my love of chandeliers is no secret (see post I {heart} chandeliers). Chandeliers add instant glam and I especially love when they are in rooms that you wouldn't normally expect them in like the kitchen or bathroom. This sitting room that opens up in the the courtyard is so stylish and begs long evenings of lounging.

I love simple, clean designs. I sometimes find vintage and shabby chic decor to be full of clutter but finding key pieces can really add more personality than a shelf crammed with knick knacks. And while I don't hate color, I am really a sucker for white. Also, the long bright windows create a breezy atmosphere.

If you would like to find your own dream chateau or inn, a good resource is Alastair Sawday's Special Places To Stay. He has found some spectacular properties all over the world. Relais & Chateaux specializes in luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants and is also an excellent resource for unique finds.

Must Have These Vintage French Pieces NOW!!!

2009-07-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

I just saw these gorgeous antique pieces at Paris Hotel Boutique run by Lynn Goldfinger-Abram.

Not only are these pieces absolutely gorgeous, but they are located in San Francisco! No shipping or waiting required! Now I just have to dig up $2,000, *sigh*...

Heartbreaking

2009-07-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

I was on Tinywater Photography's blog and saw this absolutely precious photo that captured such an intimate moment with heartbreaking simplicity...

I hadn't felt the ticking of my biological clock...... until now.

Inspiration!

2009-07-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Oh Amy-Jo Tatum, why did I not find you earlier? I only have myself and my tech-airheadedness to blame. Sigh.

Amy-Jo's blog, Bride Chic, is an amazing source for bridal inspiration.

Like this one for when I thinking of wearing gloves...

Um and this ridiculously romantic pink dress. This reminds me of a dress you would see in Snippet & Ink's Marie Antoinette Inspiration Board.

My Wedding Florals by Tanjeeryn Designs!

2009-07-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

Just to prove how technologically dense I am, I just realized that people have been leaving comments on my blog. And here I thought I was just indulging myself. But it makes me happy if even one other person is inspired by my blog or finds something really cool!

I have vowed to not only be more vigilant but also more active in my blogging. I appreciate the comments and love the feedback. I am also figuring out if I should transition in to a more general lifestyle, design blog as I am no longer going to focus solely on wedding planning - although, weddings will always be near and dear to me.

Oh, and in case you have not visited Tanjeeryn Designs' blog lately, MY WEDDING HAS BEEN POSTED!!! Jeeryn did such an amazing job on listening and collaborating with me to turn my vision in to the vintage garden themed wedding I dreamt of. I threw a million ideas at her and she patiently worked me me to refine my vision. I also made a lot of things by hand and they turned out pretty well if I don't say so myself. Here are the pictures from her blog post:

We were married at the Church of the Wayfarer in quaint Carmel, California. The floral arrangements were simple and clean and reused in the reception decor. After much debate, my husband and I settled on a sweetheart table (so the wedding party could sit with their significant others - we were planning on walking around to the tables anyways) and Jeeryn put a romantic candle display in the front and put the urns with white hydrangeas in the back. The escort card was covered in moss and the hydrangeas hung on the pews were reused on the table. I hand embossed and used calligraphy on the escort cards using gold ink. Jeeryn was able to find these vintage urns that she decorated with dahlias, hydrangeas, and ivy. The candy bar was also covered with moss and again the pew flowers were reused.

The flower girls carried adorable pomander balls with blue & gold ribbons. I had seen a bouquet Jeeryn had made with Juliet roses and I asked her to use them for my bridesmaid bouquets. They are gorgeous flowers that are full of personality. And that is me with my orchid bouquet. You can't tell in this picture but she added a vintage crystal broach that was amazing! It is something I would have picked out myself - but that's how good she is.

Design Urge

2009-07-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

With the wedding behind me I am finding that I need to find an outlet for my creative energies. The wedding was perfect - so many details, and was more than enough to satiate my design desires. Now I am throwing myself full force in to home decor. My husband (so cool to say!) and I are still looking for a house, but every open house thrills me as I can envision each places unique potential.

The only problem I will run in to is picking a theme and sticking with it. It will largely be driven by the house itself but I am already torn between a rich, earthy Napa style house with dark woods and worn leather and vintage, white washed French Country with shabby chic tables and crystal chandeliers. Here are some looks that I find devastatingly stylish...

I wouldn't mind waking up in the morning, even on the gloomiest, stormiest days if I could sip my first cup of coffee in this gorgeous kitchen. It is effortlessly glamorous which is hard to do. I like that it doesn't look too contrived or too deliberate. It almost looks as if these lovely pieces just came together themselves and decided to call this kitchen home.

Another kitchen with a chandelier. Can you tell I like chandeliers? I also love the bench. When my husband and I were looking at dining tables, we liked the bench and chair combo tables. Very cosy, casual and social in nature.

I was walking with a friend on Berkeley's 4th Street when I wandered in to this magnificent store - Napa Style. I fell in love with every spoon, carafe, and riddling rack in the store. This leather lounge became the one piece I would build my Napa inspiration around. It was so soft and plush that I almost charged the $3,000 on my card. I could easily see myself curled up on the lounge with a book by the fire sipping a good Malbec. I also envision lots of natural lighting and tons of candlelight.

This bedroom (pause) is heavenly. Literally. Pure, clean white that is soft and not harsh. A big plush bed that you can sink in to and luxuriate in. When was the last time you luxuriated? And of course the chandelier. I know it's not very harmonious but I basically told my husband that this is how I am going to design the bedroom. He will have his "man-cave" to design as he pleases, but the bedroom, I would like to have. I also have the cutest porcelian wall sconce that I lovingly craddled in my arms all the back from Rome that would be wonderful in this room.

Officially A Mrs.!

2009-07-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

I walked the aisle.
I said my vows.
I danced with my husband, my father, my friends, and my family.
I fell in love all over again.

As everyone said it would, the wedding flew by in a fantastic blur. Everything was better than I could have ever imagined and the emotions so much more intense than I could have anticipated. It was literally the best weekend of my life. With the wedding behind me and the rest of my life ahead of me, I find the need to continue planning. I want to plan an endless string of social events. Wedding planners must love their job - I know I would!

Latest Obsession - Wedding Jewelery from Perfect Details

2009-06-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Now that I have the dress and the shoes I am looking for the perfect jewelry to finish off the look. I found these GORGEOUS pieces on Perfect Details...

Hollywood Glam Cuff

Haute Bride Large Rhinestone Filigree Pendant Bracelet

Jardin Vintage Teardrop Earrings

Jardin Dangling Pear Drops Earrings

These pieces are so glamorous and timeless that I could see wearing them for years to come. I like to think of them as investments rather than purchases.

Recession Friendly Jewelery

2009-06-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

I just came across this lovely little web site, I'm Over It where you can lease absolutely gorgeous jewelery like this Kenneth Jay Lane 5 Row Pearl Bib Necklace...

This particular necklace is $50 to lease for 7 days. This is a recession friendly option to buying expensive bridal jewelery. If you're lucky enough to not be counting your pennies, there is always the option to buy

Jackie O

2009-04-26T23:00:00.001-07:00

This absolutely gorgeous picture of Jackie O could inspire an entire wedding theme. Classic and feminine. Effortless elegance. Laid back Luxury. The possibilities are endless...

Wedding Planning In Overdrive

2009-04-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, long time no blog! It seemed like months went by without any wedding planning but now that the day is a little less than three months away it seems like I have a million things to do. One of the most pressing tasks is picking out my wedding shoes since I need them for my dress alterations. Here are some that are in the running...

These Sasha heels by Grazia are not fussy looking with just enough bling. I like the strappy look as I will be having a summer wedding and the crystal accents go very well with my dress.

These strappy Martinez Valero shoes with vintage crystal detailing fit my theme perfectly but they look like they will give me killer blisters by the end of the day. But they are lovely.

And these adorable peep toes by Grazia are classic and vintage. I actually tried these on in the salon when I tried on my dress and not only did they offer great support (I fear twisting my ankle walking down the aisle and landing in a puffy heap) but they are adorable!

It's All About Accessorizing

2009-03-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

I found this gorgeous purse by Maria Elena with so many charming details. I've also been digging feathers lately so this really caught my eye.

Vintage Centerpieces!!!

2009-03-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

These centerpieces are so adorable! As soon as I saw these I sent it to my florist and said - THIS IS IT!!! I love the vintage street signs that serve as "table numbers" and while the future husband does not want any form of pink in our wedding colors, I think white and cream flowers would work equally well with this look.

East of Eden From Snippet & Ink

2009-03-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

Kathryn at Snippet & Ink is just amazing. Not only does she have a crazy sense of style but her inspiration boards have the ability to create a distinct mood that is always so fresh. Her latest, East of Eden, is one of my favorites. East of Eden is one of my favorite novels and I love how she captured the rustic elegance and romance of this theme.

French Decor

2009-03-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

We really need to buy a place so I can scratch this decorating itch that I've been having. One of my favorite sites for wedding and decor inspiration is decorology. This is where I found my latest inspiration. Since I have France-on-the-brain, this bedroom immediately caught my eye. I may have bring an empty suitcase just for the antiques and such that I plan to buy at flea markets and little country shops.

I {heart} French Chateaux

2009-03-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

My fiance and I have decided to wander the French countryside for our honeymoon. We both love the idea of poolside lounging but we get restless. The thought of leisurely drives through romantic French countrysides sounds perfect for us. Oh, and did I mention the chateaux?! I wish I could have my wedding in one of these chateaux - so dreamy and awesome!!!

This one is the Domaine De La Tortiniere in the Loire Valley....

You can find a gazillion of international chateaux, bed and breakfasts, and hotels on Alastair Sawday's site.

I {heart} Christian Louboutin

2009-03-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've never really been a shoe-fetish kind of girl but I think these Christian Louboutin Mount Street heels I found on What Junebug Loves will change all that. When I saw these beauties I let out an audible and prolonged sigh....

Getting Married During A Recession

2009-03-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

My wedding, by San Francisco Bay Area standards, is very typical...average even. We booked a nice venue (pre-market meltdown)and I bought a nice dress. I am not renting a vintage car or limo to shuttle me from the church to the reception and I am not ordering the letterpress invitations that I absolutely adore. Even as I take excruciating pains to stay within my budget, I feel a little guilty in indulging in the whole industrial wedding complex. I mean, it just feels wrong to spend $700 on a cake!

Even worse, I feel guilty for asking people to fly across the country, rent a hotel room in a pretty pricey tourist destination (Monterey), and then - as wedding etiquette dictates, buy me a gift. Logically I know that this is a once in a lifetime thing and if any moment warrants spending money on a trip, a wedding is one of them. However, it's bad out there. We are in a very bad recession and I feel slightly spoiled. Am I crazy? Is anyone else feeling this way?

Details, Details, Details!

2009-03-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

I came across this bouquet on Classic Bride and instantly incorporated it in to my personal wedding inspiration board. Now I'm on the hunt for a vintage locket to engrave with my "married" monogram - even if it's a faux pas to use your married monogram before you are actually married. But close enough, right?

Oh and I should probably bring this up to my florist when she crafts my bouquet!

Oscar Fashion An Inspiration for Wedding Gowns

2009-02-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Penelope Cruz wore a stunning vintage Balmain dress to the Oscars that I would LOVE to have as my wedding dress. Oh the detail and lace and scalloped trim!!!

Oh La La! Country French Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-02-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

Whenever I travel it awakens my wanderlust and I'm already planning my next adventure. As I sat poolside in Mexico I daydreamed about Italian villas and the French countryside. It must have inspired this inspiration board that draws upon a very soft French country palette that is also very rustic chic. I love the lighting in the headpiece picture - so angelic!

I'm Back & In Full Wedding Mode

2009-02-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

My best friend's wedding at a private villa in Puerto Vallarta was amazing. Not only was she gorgeous and glowing, but the outdoor set up and entertainment were out of this world. I mean, they had fire dancers. FIRE DANCERS! Here are a few shots...

Lanterns strung up above the reception area

Fire Dancers!

The couple had a sweetheart table set up with Calla Lilies and a perfect sunset

Accent lighting lit up trees and the beach in the background

With my friend's wedding done and over with, I have realized that I haven't really done any wedding related stuff for my own wedding in quite some time. This of course has induced tremendous panic and I am wondering, "what am I forgetting?" or "am I waiting too long to secure a DJ?". I'm going to have to revisit my checklist. Man, I love weddings!

Wedding in Puerto Vallarta

2009-02-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

My fiance and I are off to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, tomorrow for my best friend's wedding! She has a ton of events planned for her guests leading up to the wedding at a private villa. I am dying to see her dress and what they have planned for the evening. My fiance and I haven't decided what we are going to do on Valentine's Day but I imagine that even if we lounge at the resort doing nothing, it will be a perfect day.

As if that weren't exciting enough Erica Berger, her wedding photographer, happens to be our wedding photographer as well and will be shooting our engagement photos in Mexico! I'm not a very patient person so waiting for the results will be agonizing!

Wedding Lounge

2009-02-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

If I had the space (and the budget) I would love to create a lounge area at the reception. Not only does it create a relaxed atmosphere, but it also look fabulous! This outdoor lounge photo taken by Jose Villa combines this concept with my well know love of chandeliers. Perfection!!!

Rustic Romance Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-02-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

In scouring the entire Northern California region for a wedding and reception venue, several wineries in the Napa/Sonoma region were in the running. Julie Atwood Events does an amazing job at a "to-die-for" rustic barn venue that is rustic chic. Paula LeDuc Fine Catering is also the exclusive vendor for some gorgeous rustic wineries.

Although my fiance and I did not end up picking a wine country wedding, this board is an ode to my love all things rustic. I used fruits and a country apple pie to give this inspiration board an earthy feel while the pewter trimmed dishes and accents provided elegance.

Top Row: Chandelier from unknown source, Pewter Place Setting from Match

Middle Row: Outdoor Place Setting from A Bryan Photography, Pie from Dana Gallagher Photography, Dress by Paloma Blanca

Bottom Row: Peaches from Dana Gallagher Photography, Pear Place Setting from Southern Weddings, Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings

Save The Date Cards!

2009-02-09T22:26:00.000-08:00

I finally hand addressed all my Save The Date cards using gold ink. My calligraphy progressively got better and better and I think that by the time I address my invitations they will look darn near professional. Here is a sample of some of the better invitations with some information smudged out:

Luxurious Wedding

2009-02-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

I've been working on this wedding inspiration board for a while. I absolutely fell in love with the dress from Oscar De La Renta and wanted to find just the right pieces to create a luxurious, soft mood.

Top Row: Wedding at Lake Como, Italy from Grace Ormonde Weddings, Dress by Oscar De La Renta

Middle Row: Bouquet from Victoria Pearson Photography, Tocca Perfume, Candy & Rings from Martha Stewart Weddings

Bottom Row: Pears from Colin Cooke Photography, Cake from Sylvia Weinstock Cakes, Shoes from Jennifer S Rau Photography

Pretty In Pink Wedding Theme

2009-01-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

I've been in a super girly wedding kick lately. This one is a total indulgence in femininity and puffy girliness. The feathery accents in this inspiration board add to the soft, fluffy feel of this theme. I also love the shoes in this inspiration board!

Top Row: Cake from Absolutely Beautiful Things, Gabriella Imperatori shoes, Teacup from Peonies & Polaroids, Various plates from Martha Stewart Weddings

Middle Row: Stationary from Martha Stewart Weddings, Bride, Flower Girls and Ring Boy from Jose Villa Photography

Bottom Row: Shoes from Peonies & Polaroids, Guest Book and Feather Pen from Marie Labbancz Photography, Place Setting from All Things Lovely

Confessions of A Shopaholic

2009-01-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

With the movie, "Confessions of A Shopaholic", set to release I got to thinking about my own consumer habits. It's not that I'm a shopaholic, it's just that there are SO many beautiful things out there. Take, for example, these gorgeous Shaesby earrings that I found on Gilt Group that would have been perfect for my Romantic Purple Inspiration Board:

Almost makes me want to rethink my wedding colors...

Engagement Ring + A Dozen Pink Roses = Awesome Ring Picture

2009-01-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

I was feeling a little down the other day and my fiance surprised me with a dozen roses. He is typically not one to surprise so this was a really nice gesture that was sorely needed. Another reminder of why I am marrying him! The pink roses were so perfect and I was incredibly inspired by photographer's pictures of rings that I decided to have a go at it. Here is the result...

...not professional but pretty good for a simple Olympus digital camera.

Romantic Purple Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-01-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

This romantic board was inspired by the white and purple bouquet in the middle. It was just so soft and feminine feeling. This board evokes a dreamy feel with a twinge of vintage elegance. This color palette is versatile and could be used in both a winter or summer wedding.

Top Row: Lilac Pearls found on Etsy, Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, Plates & Boutonnieres from Martha Stewart Weddings

Middle Row: Cake by Deanna Liebl, Bouquet by Elizabeth Anne Designs, Champagne picture by Dana Gallagher

Bottom Row: Bridesmaid Dresses from Martha Stewart Weddings, Shoes from Shoe-Nami, Invitations & Stationary from Martha Stewart Weddings

First Comes Wedding Dress, Then Comes Wedding Hairstyles

2009-01-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

I am picky. I am a perfectionist. This combination meant that finding my wedding dress was no easy task. I visited practically every bridal salon in the area and tried on tons of dresses. I was starting to get worried after a while as I had not had that, "Oh my god this is the dress" moment. I wanted to love my dress.

Finally, I put on this gauzy, filmy, romantic, jeweled dress and I knew that I wanted to get married in this dress. I committed and ordered the dress only to panic later that night. The dress I had chosen was not what I had originally imagined myself wearing and was not the traditional ball gown style that epitomizes "wedding". Would I regret it? Before I send myself in a tailspin of neurosis, I closed my eyes and recalled how I felt in the dress and knew I had made the right choice.

So now I am on a mission to put the finishing touches on my romantic, ethereal look. Here are some of my favorite hairstyles...

Pink & Brown Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-01-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

This board was inspired by a gorgeous bouquet created by Tanjeeryn Designs. The bouquet consists of garden roses, scabiosa pods, and some bepleurum like greens and is wrapped in a silky brown ribbon with pearl details. I love the flower girl dresses in this board and am thinking of having the flower girls wear them in my wedding. They are dreamy and I kind of wish they came in my size!

Top Row: Flower Girl Dresses from US Angels, Bouquet by Tanjeeryn Design, Pink & Brown Candy wrapped with customized bows from Miki & Sonja Photography

Middle Row: Bride & Groom from Laura Novak Photography, Pink Wreaths on Church Doors from La Fete des Fleurs

Bottom Row: Ring from Jose Villa Photography, Manzanita Tree, Cherry Blossom Cake from Rosebud Cakes

Silver & White Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-01-08T22:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes inspiration begins with a theme, a movie, a song, a color, and sometimes a single image. In this instance, I found a picture of these fantastic jeweled shoes from James Ciccotti. I then found a picture of awesome antique silverware on Country Living and the Silver & White Inspiration Board began to form. I think the bride in this board is adorable and I love all the bridesmaids in white!

Top Row: Cake from real weddings on The Knot. Bride and Bridesmaids from A Bryan Photo, Antique Silverware from Country Living

Middle Row: Bride from A Bryan Photo, Evita Shoes by James Ciccotti

Bottom Row: Candy Dish and White Floral Centerpiece from Martha Stewart Weddings, 1930 Duesenberg J Arlington Sedan, Bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, Table Setting from A Bryan Photo

Shakespeare In Love Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-01-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

This wedding inspiration board was inspired by one of my favorite movies, Shakespeare In Love. How could you not be inspired by the man who penned the ultimate love story?

Top Row: Kohl Mansion, Gold Bouquet from Martha Stewart Wedding, Cartier Inde Mysterieuse Ring in Pink Gold

Middle Row: Gwyneth Paltrow in "Shakespeare In Love", Kohl Mansion

Bottom Row: Old English Door, Scribe Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart Wedding, Shoes from Jennifer S Rau Photography

White Floral Centerpieces

2009-01-06T16:19:00.001-08:00

This white table setting really caught my eye. It's simple, clean, and elegant. I think I'm going to ask my reception venue if I can have long banquet tables instead of round tables.

I also found a picture of this beach-y manzanita branch that would work well with the vintage beach theme. It might be a good idea for the escort card table. Although, I really like the gold covered manzanita branch that I found on Martha Stewart.

DIY Wedding Candy Favors

2009-01-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

I am starting to collect ideas and inspiration for my wedding candy bar. My final inspiration board draws on my vintage theme and incorporates the cream, champagne, gold, and robin's egg blue color palette that I think I have settled on.

I found some neat candy making supplies at Country Kitchen SweetArt including this adorable Fleur De Lis chocolate mold:

I also found this shimmery candy dust that is "FDA approved" but sort of freaks me out. I mean, if you need FDA approval for food, it can't be that good...

Forever & Always

2009-01-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so a little off topic here but I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. Her music may be a bit juvenile and poppy but she's honest with her feelings, tells a great story though her songs, and I truly believe each word she sings. So when I saw her ultimate nightmare aka. Dick Clark's 2008 New Years Eve Special, I cringed and wanted to save her from the horribly awkward midnight countdown that she had to endure with her ex Joe Jonas. She has made no bones about how she feels jilted and the last minute addition, Forever & Always, on her new album Fearless, chronicles an all too familiar story of being totally blindsided by a break up that seemingly comes out of nowhere.

I distinctly recollected the time that my best friend was unceremoniously dumped by "the one" for some vague reasons. This break up was preceded by declarations of love and a really awesome hand hewn bag from Mexico. So when I got the phone call from my BFF that he had broken up with her I literally said, "you're joking right?" I rushed back to the apartment we shared and we proceeded to drink copious amounts of wine and sifted through every moment to see if signs were missed or expectations were unrealistic...but nothing.

You probably could not give my BFF a small nation to rule over in exchange for a very awkward, very public New Years Eve post-breakup reunion. My heart goes out to Taylor and I wish we could share a bottle of wine and write a new song about how "the one" we think is "the one" isn't always "the one". My BFF met "the one" a few years later and is getting married in February - YAY!!!

Letterpress Invitations

2009-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

Before this whole wedding planning process I had no idea that Letterpress even existed. Now I am a big fan. I'd love to have my wedding invitations done with the Letterpress technique and carry it over to the program booklets as well.

These invitations are some of my favorite designs from East Six.

Unique Wedding Idea

2009-01-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

I read endless amounts of blogs and wedding websites lately looking for really unique details and design ideas. I don't remember which blog I found this on or who to even attribute this awesome idea to but this is one of the most truly unique ideas. The gauzy white drapes suspended by white balloons is so dreamy and ethereal! If I were having an outdoor wedding I would definitely do this. I might even see what it looks like indoors (ie. does it look incredibly ridiculous in a room) and use it above the dance floor. It might actually work!

Wedding Registry

2009-01-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

My new furniture restoration project has inspired me to revisit my wedding registry. In poking around the internet I found Match, the most gorgeous handmade pewter from Italy. It's a little on the pricey side, so no registry, but it would be perfect for my new shabby chic furniture! I know it's a sin...but I covet these...

I did, however, register at Napa Style. I was wandering around 4th Street in Berkeley, California when I stumbled in to this wonderful store. Since they don't have a an official registry I created a wish list and put the link on my wedding web site. They have great entertaining, tabletop, and serve ware. There are also some amazing furniture pieces that I would love.

Save The Date Cards

2008-12-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

Time flies - especially when you are planning a wedding!

Oh and did I mention that my Save The Date Cards finally arrived...

My cards are written in gold ink rather than black but you get the idea. I have started hand addressing each one in my own style of calligraphy and am pretty impressed with the results. I will post pictures of the ones that turn out the best.

Happy New Years!

Shabby Chic Awesomeness

2008-12-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

My fiance and I are going to purchase a dining table and matching buffet off of Craigslist. The pieces were originally painted an off white but have yellowed with age and suffered some dings, nicks, and scratches. It has been for sale for quite some time because in it's current state it is not so pretty. However, I can see the potential and am going to re-finish and paint it in a shabby chic style. I have no idea how to achieve this so I Googled, "How to paint painted furniture", and one of the sites that popped up was My Romantic Home and WOW what a find!!! Turns out there is this totally talented mother living a few towns over that finds lovely old pieces and refinishes them. Her decor is envious and I am inspired to take on this seemingly large project.

I also found some great wedding inspiration in her decor such as the lovely piece below:

I will keep you posted on the progress of the refinishing process!