Apple Green Wedding Color Palette

Peridot is the birthstone for August! So, I went nuts over this pretty hue of apple green, which became my inspiration for putting together this inspiration board consisting of apple green and lemon. Imagine crafting a color palette matching this color with anything from plum to chocolate brown. You can even infuse some touches of gold to make it truly glamorous! And of course, don't forget it can also be coordinated with vibrant hues of fuchsia, yellow, and orange. Check it out:




Gorgeous cake made with buttercream and topped with lilies
via http://thatsmycakeblog.blogspot.com

Strapless silk bridesmaid dress from AnnTaylor.com - luv the pretty sash and bow

Apple green wedding invitations via ModernGirlInvitations.com

Cymbidium orchid bouquet via Designsbyhemingway.com in Hawaii

14Kt peridot engagement ring via Ross-simons.com - luv the pretty diamond accents

Citrine Wedding Color Palette - Oh WOW!

I seem to be on a jewel hunt lately! Citrine is my next adventure with its beautiful yet understated elegance. Imagine yourself in a citrine-inspired wedding decorated with sparkly details of this wonderful stone. I can highlights of gold painted with soft touches of ivory, ecru, or vanilla cream. The look is just stunning! Think of Hollywood glamour here! The following are my favorite elements to put this scene together:



The Wedding Invitations via wedding-calligrapher.com/
The Citrine Engagement Ring via diamond.com/

The Bridesmaid Dresses via modcloth.com/
Wedding Cake with Gold Accents via sugarcraft.com/
The Shoes by Stuart Weitzman via amazon.com/

Purple Wedding Color Palette

I'm somewhat mesmeried by the color purple. It's one of those colors that's mysterious yet the more you get to know the color, the more elegant it becomes. Whether you choose to have a monochromatic palette of purple or a combination of colors, purple will speak to you as if it is saying "c'mon, do you dare try me?" Here, I've put together a few of my favorite purple themed wedding items:

view from left to right




Amethyst & Diamond Ring - gorgeous rock via Max & Chloe. Be sure to see the matching earring set!

Purple and black wedding cake via Jeneza Cakes in Utah - love the look of these gum paste flowers!

Bridesmaid dress via helenebridal.com - the taffeta fabric is so luxurious! I think this can also make a beautiful substitute for a wedding gown, if you don't plan on having any bridesmaids. Think unconventional here!

Twig purple invitation via zazzle.com - so simple yet chic

Remember that purple comes in varying shades from lavender to aubergine, so consider how to match these colors by deciding on what shade you want to use. For instance, do you want the look dramatic with a dark shade or one that is light and elegant with lilac. And then find matching hues to coordinate with these colors.

Inspiration Board for A Fall Wedding Theme

While we may be almost a month and a half away from fall, I just decided to fall into autumn anyways! This fall-inspired inspiration board sums all that I could imagine for a romantic autumn wedding with vibrant hues that seemingly bring the beauty of the outdoors in.


images via
1 - Fall Ivory Cake from Sedona Wedding Cakes - featuring dark ivory fondant with chocolate swirls and sugar flowers

2 - Orange Callas from Beautiful Blooms - I can't say enough about this! Speechless!

3 - Brown Bridesmaid Dress from Eden available at Perfect Bridal

4 - Organza Wrapped Porcelain Boxes from Bellenza

5 - Floral Chiffon Wedding Dress from David's Bridal

6 - Maple Leaf Invitation by Vera Wang from FineStationery

Wacky Wedding Venues

I was feeling a bit quirky today, so it seemed logical to come up with some wacky ideas for wedding venues. After all, sometimes, you need to see something totally off the wall to be able to get those creative juices going!

One of the ideas that I stumbled upon was a wedding in a bowling alley. For all of you avid bowlers, this would be wonderful theme idea!

Check out this article "Bowling alley wedding: How creativity is priceless in a bad economy."

Or how about attending camp? This couple had an entire weekend of camp activities leading up to their wedding ceremony. It's a fun-filled event that can get everybody involved. Also perfect for acquainting the two sides of the bride and groom. Check out "The Bride Wore Bug Spray."

Do wild animals and an African safari interest you? Then perhaps you can have a wedding in a zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical garden features the perfect wedding location!

A Wedding by a Golf Course TPC Valencia

If you're an avid golfer, you will most likely be familiar with TPC golf courses, which brings me to today's idea for a wedding by a golf course. The TPC in Valencia is one example! You can have a breathtaking golf course wedding overlooking the beautiful Santa Clarita valley. The venue itself can accomodate parties as small as 40 to as larger 250 or more guests. You can even have a lovely ceremony wedding by the golf course. They also have menu packages for brunch and breakfast so it's great when you're watching your budget. Check out the place:

Real Life Artwork for your Wedding

I was at the dentist's office yesterday and stumbled upon my favorite magazine Dwell where I found a company called CanvasPop! It's basically a cool way of putting any photo into a life-sized canvas. They offer various dimensions and layouts for the canvas. Best of all, you get to customize the look yourself using their various online tools. I say that this is a great way to personalize your wedding with a life-size shot of your engagement pics. Or how about as a lovely way of decorating your guest book table. Check 'em out at www.canvaspop.com!

Ball gown wedding dress from Pronovias

I must be a hopeless romantic for ball gown wedding dresses have always been my favorite! And the 2011 collection from Pronovias is a must-see. They're all gorgeous, but my absolute favorite is this one (Felisa):



Just imagine a romantic church wedding in a historic church as your setting. Or an elegant garden location in a botanical garden. Then consider bridesmaid dresses in a summer color like aqua or apricot! The groom is all dressed up in an ascot tie, while your groomsmen are handsomely attired in tuxedos. It's definitely a wedding fit for a princess!

Would you sign a pre-nup?

Yes, I do, but wait. Please sign here first! Would you sign a pre-nup? Read about it in the WSJ article: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Sign Here

Alternatives to Bridesmaid Dresses

Today, I am looking beyond traditional. In fact, it's all about going out of the box and unconventional. When you think about bridesmaid dresses, you probably won't consider prints and florals, but they can be just as pretty! Perfect as an alternative to traditional bridesmaid dresses, which have no printed patterns at all. So, if you want to try something totally different consider these dresses that I found at Nordstrom's:

Paisley dress by Ralph Lauren


Halter dress by Donna Morgan - me like a lot!! so pretty!


Cutout neck cotton sheath dress by Arthur S. Levine


And one you find that perfect outfit, dress it up! Add a pretty accessory like a bangle. Match it up with some lovely shoes and end finish it up with an elegant purse. Just remember to add accessories!

The Wedding Registry - Tips To Keep you Sane

Ah, the wedding registry! If you've ever had to put one together, it can be both fun and nerve wrecking simply because there are so many things to consider. But before you bonkers, let me give you a few tips to remember.

1) First think of the essentials like dinnerware and linens. This is best done with an exhaustive list.

2) Register at places that make the lists easily accessible. I personally love stores like Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, and Pottery Barn. It's best to limit the list to a few stores because when there are too many stores, you won't be able to keep track of the things you've chosen.

3) Keep the list manageable so that you actually do get what you want.

4) Share the list with your fiance and see if it is realistic. You may end wanting so many things that it will end up sitting in the closet forever.

5) Identify things that you absolutely want to have, but be sure to consider the prices. We don't want to break etiquette here. For example, the Cuisinart® PartyPop Popcorn Maker would definitely be on my list:

via Sur La Table


Among other things in the "want" list, coffee maker, toaster oven, microwave, and food processor. These are appliances that you will surely use!

The Cutest Little Flower Girl Dresses from JCrew

I'm going small today. Small as in turning my attention to the littlest members of the wedding entourage. The flower girl! And when it comes to looking for cute dresses, J Crew has some of the nicest pieces. Some may find them pricey, but they're just oozing with cuteness! Take these three lovely ones:

Coral, sleeveless with ruffles


Pink organza with tulle underlay - luv this! it's on sale, too!


Metallic gilded with crinkled design - unusual yet pretty, too.


And if you find that these are a bit over your budget. Get creative with the outfits. Try dressing them up as little ballerinas or fairies with wings. Or consider other costumes that would be appropriate. These are ideal for an elegant garden ceremony in the summer. Imagine that!

Casual Wedding Attire for Beach Weddings

With the lingering effects of the past recession, I think casual weddings are definitely a mainstay this season! Consider going casual without going totally informal by having a "smart" casual look. The look I'm talking about is especially ideal for a beach wedding! So today I'm focusing on how you can dress up for your wedding this summer sans the tux and formal gown, but still being high on style.

Enter first the groom! For him, I suggest the Seersucker sport coat from Brooks Brothers. A Cuban straw hat would look equally handsome as well. If you don't want to have a bowtie, a tie would work, too.

via Brooks Brothers


And for the bride, I just love this white eyelet sheath dress from Talbot's. It's simply elegant. Imagine yourself with a beautiful hydrangea bouquet while outfitted in this dress. Accessorize your look with a lovely shawl or wrap because beach weddings can get cool at night!

via Talbot's


If you tally up the total you'll spend on the above outfits, you won't be spending any more than $500-800 total. Plus, you can wear them again. Lastly, with the money that you will save on your wedding attire, what do you do? Splurge on your honeymoon, baby.

Classic Weddings of the 50s

Today is about looking back. Way back at weddings during the 50s. Romantic, nostalgic, and pure elegance is what comes to mind. It is also so inspiring to have a wedding crafted in the style of stars such as Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn. Imagine what it would be like?! Check out the wedding galleries at Life Magazine, they cover great pics which offer up not only the fashion of the time, but you will also notice the photography style is also quite unique!

via Life


Be sure to see their slideshow on Royal Weddings and other classic weddings, too!

Chartreuse Wedding Color Palette

Chartreuse. I just love the name as much as the color itself. It is versatile and can be matched up with a beautiful hue of purple to a sunny shade of orange. You can even pair it nicely with aqua or brown. See the possibilities! This wonderful color is also elegant and understated. To build your own color palette, consider these options below from your bridesmaid dress to the invitations:

Chartreuse A-line tea-length bridesmaid dress - via JLM Couture


Oak tree invitation - via minted.com


Grid pattern wedding cake - via LovinSullivanCakes.com


Bride's Bouquet (Cymbidium Orchids) - via Dellables.com

Carrot Cake Wedding Cake So Yummy

I love cake especially when you can have your take of vegetables. Huh? It's carrot cake I'm talking about. While not everyone is fan of carrot cake, I personally think it's a great flavor for a wedding cake. But, if you are not a fan of carrot cake, at least there are many other options. Check out Wilton's site for more recipes! And if you're still looking for a carrot cake recipe, try this recipe that uses white chocolate icing. YUM!

As for the design of the cake, this design would simply take the cake! Don't you just love the pretty daisies. So cute.

A Wonderful Alternative to an Engagement Ring

Would you still say "yes" if your fiance didn't pop a ring, but instead a necklace like this one? Yes, of course! I was thinking about engagement necklaces as a unique, hip alternative to rings. Don't get me wrong. I love rings, but sometimes having to wear a ring all the time can pose small issues like when you're cooking or when you have to dip your hands in a brownie batter! Hence, I thought that an engagement necklace would be a wonderful option. Plus, you can flaunt it more easily than a ring, since it's on your neck. While browsing through the lovely necklace collection at Neiman Marcus, I chose this cable circle pendant from the David Yurman collection as my favorite:

Cable Circle Pendant - Sterling silver Cable circle pendant with pave diamonds on a box chain. 1.08 total carat weight.

Halter style dress in blue from Edenbridals

I just can't say this enough, but I love this gorgeous and stunning bridesmaid dress from EdenBridals. This beautiful halter-style V-neck, chiffon royal blue piece is sure to be eye-catching during the wedding. What I really like about this gown is the backside! And let's not forget the elegant brooch in the front. Just pretty, so pretty! I can see how this dress would be great for a winter, fairy tale wedding or even at a tropical wedding ceremony by the beach. It's royal blue after all. Match it up with some black or metallic-matte colored shoes.

Check it out via Edenbridals.com

The front



The back

The Pantone Wedding Color Guide

I just love Spring and with the release of the PANTONE WEDDING color guide, I'm sure you will find the prefect color combo for your wedding. The guide offers 194 colors for Spring 2010 and it's portable to use. You can take with you to your meetings with the florist, the cake maker, or even the stationery people. Get the guide from the website of dessy.com:

Foodzie - Luv it!

Every once in a while, you just want to see something totally different. Something you want to eat naturally. So, when I am looking for something truly scrumptious, I head for the site of Foodzie. There are so many unique, edible items on their site that I'm sure you are bound to find a perfect wedding gift. Or even those cookies you've been wanting to give out as favors. If you have any questions on making an order, you can also always contact the artisan and perhaps find something that they can make just for you.

And just to let you know or to whet your appetite, here is what I found today! Cookies from Elsylee Galetes Artesanals: