Summer Lovin!

A favorite client of mine is having her wedding in a beautiful tented pavilion this summer.  This bride has absolutely impeccable style and I am beyond thrilled to be working with her and her lovely family.
She initially came to me with a color pairing of emerald green + white (which you know I adore…so Kate Spade!)  That said, there was a part of me that wanted to play around with ‘summertime’ a bit:  take advantage of the bright, warm hues that are so seasonally inspiring…We swiftly came to a color story of peaches/apricots, coral/melon, creams and bright kelly greens.  
She wants her design to feel a bit shabby chic, so we’re working with soft gauzy fabrics for the outdoor ceremony, eclectic vintage containers including cut crystal and milk glass to highlight guest tables and the inclusion of fresh summer fruits like peaches and apricots for added dimension and depth.  
Attached is the inspiration board I put together for her day…Makes me shiver with anticipation of warmer temperatures and summer breezes!

 

Adoration of Simplicity…Cutie Tech Accessories

As much as it is bad form to admit…I rarely embrace technology.  I tend to hold on to the simple, mundane ways of doing things…I still have a hand written diary with all appointments and happenings, I don’t tweet and I am quite honestly astonished that I have figured out how to ‘publish my posts’, here with my blog!  
But, if one doesn’t find technology inspiring, perhaps a simple charming accessory like my new iphone cover will encourage one to dream.
Yes – this cover is certainly for me!  A room with beautiful crown molding, a chandelier, green heels patting around the floor in the arms of a lova, heaps of artwork and a honkin’ vase of fresh flowers.  This should be my real life, no?  
Makes returning calls much less daunting…

Why Not…?! The Grand Exit.

The problem with many of the large, gorgeous churches and cathedrals in the city is that they host multiple weddings in addition to regular services and masses on any given weekend.  Because of that, many have adopted a ‘no tossing’ policy, prohibiting guests to shower the newlyweds with petals, birdseed, fresh lavender {the scent alone is enough to help etch that moment in your memory!} or anything that leaves a mess.
Instead of foregoing the beautiful photo-op {or going for the expected bubbles or bells}, Why Not…have charming ribbon wands made – have ushers hand them out as guests exit the church and have them wave them enthusiastically as you make your grand exit.

This is a simple project that Renny and I have done countless times.  Find yourself a bit crafty with some extra time on your hands?  {We can’t possibly be talking about brides…who has extra time!} – thin dowel rods, strips of beautiful ribbons from here and a hot glue gun is all you need.

A traditional toss of feather-light confetti gets a modern update in a rainbow of colors…

Or Why Not…consider a cute {less eco friendly} balloon release post ceremony.  Ask guests to make a wish or blessing in your honour as they daintily float out of sight.

So Why Not…add yet another fantastic layer of charm and drama to your grand exit with these simple ideas.  And who wants rice stuck in their perfectly coiffed hairstyle, anyway?!

{photo credits} ribbon wands by artisan events.  confetti  from braedon flynn photography.  balloon release by olivia leigh

For Keeps…For Sure!

We all know how much I adore stores like Jcrew for producing a line of bridal gowns that are fresh and stylish yet a bit more realistically priced – as compared to the likes of Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang gowns – so I was more than thrilled when Anthropologie finally debuted it’s own wedding shop last week:  BHLDN {pronounced “beholden”}.

Here are a few of my favs:
The Ribboned Silk, Monarch and Trumpted Pavot Gowns are each under $4,100.
The Pleated Fantasy Gown is one of my top picks – heaps of drama for $3,600!
And how fantastically charming would the Eyelet Medley Sheathe be for the boathouse or golf-course bride – especially when we’re talking about a price-tag of $1000!
And it doesn’t stop at fanciful frocks…

The have darling shoes…
Fun jewelry…

Cutie capelets, boleros and shrugs…
Daring or dainty headpieces…
Sexy or sweet lingerie…
And adorable accessories like gloves, clutches, belts and more…
Inspired by the Dutch word for “To Keep”…BHLDN is certain to stay a while!
{image credits} all images taken from BHLDN

Adoration of Simplicity: Carnations

Earlier this week I was meeting a friend for a coffee at local favorite, Floriole Cafe.  After too much easy conversation with this fellow wedding planning pal, we knew we had already spent too much time away from our desks and that client checklists and budgets were looming.

On my way back to my car, I found myself further sidetracked by bundles of fresh flowers seemingly spilling from a teensy, chic boutique across the street.  In the blink of an eye, and much to my delight, Epoch {the unusually artful floral design studio} has opened a genius ‘pop-up’ location to serve as a happy retail haven offering seasonal fleurs by the bunch.

Although we have an account at our local wholesale market, I couldn’t leave empty handed.  I found myself surprisingly wooed by an abundant bucket bursting with antique-looking and mottled carnations.  Carns {often getting a bad rap due to their uber-cost-effective nature {and what’s so bad about that!?} and poor design usage in the 80s and 90s} can be perfectly beautiful when used en masse and listen up: layered – often lending the illusion of {more acceptable} garden roses.
Enjoy this simple adoration – on even the tightest budget.

Ah Shucks.

Renny and I are beyond honoured that Bliss was {again!!} recognized by real brides as one of the best wedding planning firms!  
On top of that fun news, we just got our spankin new glossy coffee-table books: The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook {find it here} that features copious inspirational wedding images, helping brides with color selection, style navigation and much more!   Flipping through the pretty pages, Renny and I noticed that we both have past client events that are showcased!  
Love, love, love The Knot!

Delish.

While I may have taken the easy way out, blaming the lack of homemade goodness on my workload –  this darling, delectable dessert is what I meant to have waiting for Joel and I after our romantic dinner a dinner a deux on Monday evening…


I found this gorgeously girlie recipe in  Fleur Woods’ book:  Food Fashion Friends, that can be picked up here.

Color Inspiration

I love love love it when I have the opportunity to work with clients that come to me looking for major guidance and direction with color composition.  To my delight, I have had a few recent lovelies that have allowed me to play with color combinations – with just a hint of direction – granting me the freedom to play…

Here, for a spring client that hoped for a collection of colors that read soft, pretty and slightly unexpected, I played around with dusty peaches and apricots, pairing it with grays and graphites and grounded it with an accent of richer navy.

As the snow continues to dust our layers of packed powder, here in Chicago, this board helps me to keep the faith…