A Valentine's Dinner Party

With Valentine's Day less than a week away, why not gather your friends and celebrate together? Whether they're single or in relationships, everyone can join in on the fun of this heart-themed dinner party.

- Handmade heart invitations from Etsy seller SandyPhotoArt
- A red leather heart journal can serve as a guest book as well as a place for writing thoughts on love
- Pink passion martinis are the perfect cocktail for the occasion
- Dessert couldn't be sweeter then with these cupcakes adorably adorned with white frosting and 2 hearts [via flickr user Dimpleicious]
- Stunning red and white table setting made up of red chairs, white base linens, a red runner, multiple small red floral arrangements, white dinnerware and red napkins.

A Navy & Lilac Wedding

Today's post was inspired from this gorgeous navy and lilac bridesmaid dress by Siri. I just love this chic color combination, especially since it's not very common!

- Vibrant blue and lilac bouquet by Tapestry Flowers
- DIY escort cards in navy
- Lilac heels by Elie Tahari for the bridesmaids
- Navy and lilac diagonal striped tie for the groom
- Navy programs and guest books adorned with monogrammed lilac ribbon

Oh Baby! Lavender & Brown Baby Shower

Niharika emailed in need of inspiration for a co-ed baby shower with a lavender theme. To make the color palette a little more male friendly, I added in the darker hue of chocolate brown.

- Chocolate truffles adorned with miniature lavender blooms are an elegant and color-coordinated dessert. A similar look could be achieved with mini chocolate muffins or brownie bites. [via Martha Stewart]
- White china with a subtle lavender flower and branch design would be lovely for serving dishes or each place setting. [via Michael C. Fina]
- These lavender and brown paper flowers are great as place cards or as table decorations. [via Martha Stewart]
- Striking table centerpieces made with lavender hydrangeas, sweet peas, manzanita branches and golden centre tail feathers. [via the Knot]
- Patterned chocolate cookies in a white favor box wrapped with a lavender ribbon [via Brides]
- DIY lavender booklets can be used as guest books or favors

Wedding Wednesday - Burgundy & Grey Wedding

Welcome to the next installment of Wedding Wednesday! Today Kati of The Finer Things and I have selected this burgundy and grey pocket invitation from FineStationery.com. (Yes, another invitation with grey- I told you I was obsessed!) Burgundy is the perfect fall color - it's rich, luxurious and pairs well with others (orange, grey, bright blue, gold).

- Linen wedding album with satin burgundy bow

- Multi-tier cake divided by vibrant purple-burgundy florals

- Photo of burgundy orchids

- Uphold a New Orleans second line tradition with these personalized handkerchiefs tied with burgundy ribbon

- Elegant burgundy "fit and flare dress" by Sherrie Bloom & Peter Noviello

- Fall table setting featuring low burgundy floral arrangements, varying charger and plate shapes/colors and burgundy napkins

Look below for a sneak peak at Kati's take on this week's wedding invitation. I love the boutonniere- it's perfect for today's theme! Be sure to check out the rest of her selections at The Finer Things.

Wedding Wednesday - Old-World Sage & Ivory Wedding

Welcome to another edition of Wedding Wednesday! This week Kati of The Finer Things and I selected this sage green and ivory lace invitation from FineStationery.com. It's made by one of my favorite stationers, Prentiss Douthit. I love the simplistic elegance portrayed by this invitation. It looks simple but then you can look more closely and see the intricate details of the old-world lace pattern.

I chose to carry the feel of what I call 'subtle traditional' throughout my picks for this week's board. I like how the pale colors compliment each other and have an antique-like appeal.

- Lovely table decor featuring glass chandeliers and many arrangements of ivory flowers

- Sage green leaves and ivory florals decorate this classy cake [via Snippet & Ink]

- Tea length silk dupioni bridesmaid dress in snapdragon and ivory by Watters & Watters

- Delicate and very detailed bridal bouquet [via Snippet & Ink]

- Sage green handmade guest book by wedlog

Check out a sneak peak at Kati's board below. I absolutely love the dress she includes! Be sure to head over to The Finer Things to check out all of her selections!

Wedding Wednesday - Lovebirds Engagement Party

It's time for the next edition of Wedding Wednesday. This week Kati of The Finer Things and I chose this sweet bird invitation from FineStationery.com as our inspiration for an engagement party.



This bird and nature theme would be lovely for bridal showers, baby shower, dinner parties and more. See my pics for an engagement party below:

- Multi-tier cake with birch twigs and and gum-paste birds
- Vintage postcards featuring birds and nests; would be great for table cards, decor or a different version of a guest book
- Cute handmade bird cake topper by Ann Wood
- Bird-topped favor boxes
- White ceramic bird vase - great for a centerpiece or just as added table decor
- A Perched Pair - intricate bird soaps would be wonderful as favors or wedding party gifts
- Love nest soap favor- cute egg shaped soaps resting in a bird's nest
- Bird's nest place card holder
- Table decor featuring branch centerpieces and birds


As soon as we picked this week's invitation I just knew that Kati would put together an amazing board and she certainly didn't disappoint! Be sure to check out The Finer Things to see her selections.

Pucci Inspired Affair

Today's post is inspired by the Italian fashion designer, Emilio Pucci. With bright colors and bold patterns, this purple, blue and yellow wedding is right off the runway.

- Boutonnieres - Purple, chocolate and blush pink calla lilies
- Guest book - Purple book accented with a fashionable patterned ribbon
- Bold and unique table decor
- Bridal bouquet - Fuchsia and chocolate calla lilies and variegated grass all wrapped in a luxurious purple ribbon
- Subtle floral centerpieces allow for vibrant table decor
- Favors - Pucci perfume bottles

Wedding Wednesday - A Green & Brown Wedding

Hello and welcome to the next installment in the Wedding Wednesday series. Kati of The Finer Things and I have chosen this green and brown invitation by William Arthur and per usual, we'll be providing you with two unique inspiration boards based on our chosen invitation. (invitation image from FineStationery.com)

Ceremony:
- Beribboned wreath decorates this guest book table

- Green floral ceremony aisle decor

- All green and texture-rich bridal bouquet made up of green bear grass, spider mums, Kermit mums and hydrangea.

Reception:

- Table setting featuring chocolate brown linens, white dinnerware and green and white centerpieces.

- Table name cards featuring the name and an image of different trees

- Nature infused wedding cake

- An assortment of DIY green and brown favors

Kati of The Finer Things has put together a great collection of ideas for a green and brown wedding. So many great ideas that I could only narrow it down to 3 (instead of my usual 2) to feature below. Be sure to check it out!

Wedding Wednesday - Dream Wedding Edition!

Today is a very special Wedding Wednesday! Kati, of The Finer Things, had a wonderful idea to switch things up a little this week. Instead of selecting only one invitation, this week we're selecting two! We are presenting you with inspiration boards for what we think is our dream wedding. Since my dream wedding wouldn't be the same as Kati's, we each selected different invitations. Here's where this gets even better- I was just married this past November so I decided to give you a peak into my real life dream wedding!

I'm sure I've mentioned before that my favorite color combination is black and white so those were my wedding colors. For the invitation, the first introduction of your theme to your guests, I chose this simple and classic white invitation by Rita Renning (from FineStationery.com). I added a band of black ribbon to the center for a striking look.

The following is a montage of elements from my day. I've described each in more detail below but want to give credit to Creative Image Associates for the amazing pictures. Anyone needing a photographer on the east coast should check them out because they're really fun and take wonderful pictures!

Table decor: My husband and I are both avid theatre lovers so we wanted to incorporate that element into our wedding. Each table had a Playbill from a specifically selected show placed alongside the simple floral centerpiece and atop the black tablecloth. The table names were titles of songs from each show. For our sweetheart table, I created a custom Playbill with our engagement picture.

Bridesmaids: This picture is of me with my lovely bridesmaids. They wore floor length black gowns that gathered across the waist into a brooch. They carried red gerber daisies with black centers. (Red was an accent color.)

Favor: I wanted an inexpensive DIY favor and decided to adorn votive holders with custom wedding labels. The white votives fit perfectly into clear candy bags and were tied with black ribbon. (Just the beginning of my ribbon adoration.)

Programs: I designed and printed my own programs on high quality white card stock. Use the scoring attachment on your paper cutter to get a professional crease. I punched two holes in the crease to thread and tie black ribbon into a bow.

Ceremony exit: This picture shows my husband and I as we are exiting the church. Guests were handed bubble wands adorned with thin black ribbon. This may be one of my favorite pictures because you can see the bubbles glimmering in the night.

Wedding cake: Our cake was covered in white buttercream made to look like fondant. (Same look, better taste) Subtle trios of white dots were placed sporadically around the layers. The base of each layer had black ribbon (See? I told you I was obsessed). Our initials topped the cake though it is hard to see in the picture.

Groom and Groomsmen: The groom and his dapper groomsmen were dressed in all black tuxes. The only white element was the tie. I absolutely love this look! The Dads wore a more traditional style tux with a white shirt and a black tie.

Bridal Flowers: My bouquet was made of white gerber daisies with black centers. Several of the daisies had a Swarovski crystal in the center to add a sparkle. The base was wrapped in white ribbon and adorned at the top with my Grandmother's antique brooch. Also in this picture you can see a glimpse at the side of my dress made by Maggie Sottero.

Reception Location: Our reception was at a 1930's ballroom that once hosted jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra. It has a great history and is just beautiful. We made sure to include a lot of jazz and swing music.

Guest Book: Simple white guest book with a black ribbon horizontally across the middle.

I hope you've enjoyed your glimpse into my dream wedding. I'm really excited to share it with you. Make sure you head over to The Finer Things to see Kati's version of Wedding Wednesday. I'm so eager to see what her dream wedding includes!

Lime & Strawberry Wedding

Today's post features a lime and strawberry wedding! I was inspired by a post on Faye and Greer, one of my favorite blogs even though it is no longer updated. The post, Preppy Polka Dots, features one couples' strawberry and lime wedding and the custom work created for their special day. The invitation, place cards and table cards (plus a bunch of other stuff not shown here) was designed by Ceci New York.

Forgo a traditional guest book for these strawberry-colored cards with envelopes. Have guests write a little note to the bride and groom and place inside a clear container. You could even ask guests to write a note for different parts in the couples' life. For instance, a guest would put 'When having a baby' on the envelope and put a tip or advice on the card inside for when the couple approaches that situation. The couple will enjoy opening these long after the wedding.

For a cute detailed touch, add lime and strawberry ribbon to the couples' toasting glasses. This is a simple DIY trick to customize the glasses if you don't want to invest in a pre-done set.

Lastly, for the wedding cake, try lime ribbon at the base of each layer combined with strawberry polka dots.

A Vibrant Red & Aqua Wedding

This wedding theme is vibrant, fun and perfect for the bride who wants a blast of bold color. Now I must admit when I came across this color combination I was a little unsure but after finding some great examples I just fell in love with it.

I'll start with the invitation, part of a beautiful red and aqua letterpress invitation suite. The card is ecru with red text and features an aqua belly band and an aqua envelope. Bella Figura, the stationer responsible for this lovely card has rapidly become one of my favorite letterpress sites.

At your ceremony, hang these aqua and red programs over the edge of your chairs and request that your guests sign an attractive teal and aqua guest book.

At your reception, set your tables with white plates and red linen napkins tied with aqua paper bands that denote where each guest should sit. For centerpieces use small tight domes of red carnations inside white compotes. Finish the look by tying a red silk dupioni bow around the base of the compote.

Celebrate the traditional cake festivities with a non-traditional aqua and red wedding cake. And finally, say a sweet thank you to your guests with aqua and red jelly bean favors wrapped up in adorable matching paper pouches.