My amazing cousin, Amy, is getting married today!! In her honour, I have put together a little inspiration board reflecting her simple, clean and romantic color story.
Amy has been a bridesmaid in what seems like dozens of weddings {so popular!} and has been first hand witness to loads of color palettes, wedding styles and overall designs – but from the day Chris presented her with the iconic ‘little blue box’, Amy knew she wanted her wedding to remind her of the minute he proposed.
A crisp, clean color palette of varied whites will be accented with the most subtle undertone of Tiffany blue and espresso. I’m hopeful the weather cooperates, as her charming ceremony is planned to be held outdoors at a country club, with dinner and dancing inside the clubhouse.
I have been lucky enough to be a bit involved with the planning/design process and just have to say that my cousin, Amy, is one of the most truly happy, appreciative and excited brides that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I am so lucky to share her day with her!
{image credits} invitation suite by cheree berry, well dressed drinks by amy atlas, hair blossom by kmi photography via style me pretty, macarons by amy atlas, flowers on chair via wedding style guide, eaux-de-vie via martha stewart, peony bouquet from the dreamy liz banfield photography, happy saying by thebrightsideproject.com, balloon buffet by amy atlas, table number via martha stewart weddings
I had a friend ask me about hostess gifts the other day and it got me thinking…Whether large or small, expensive or cheap, a little thought can truly go a long way when showing appreciation to your hostess for including you in her event {and certainly inspire a return invitation in the future!} Here are a few of my current favorite hostess gift ideas!:
For a Casual Get Together: A modestly priced bottle of wine {Kim Crawfod Sav Blanc is my favorite} is beautifully and simply dressed up with these charming engraved tags from Dempsey and Carroll.
For the Constant Entertainer: A beautiful teacake dome from Juliska can be thoughtfully presented when paired with a home-baked treat {and used the next time she entertains}!
For the Busy Mom: Encourage her to easily tidy up for your get-togethers with ease by presenting your girlfriend with these adorable ‘everything bins’ by Serena and Lily.
For a Quick Solution: Grab a few bottles of your hostesses’ favorite beverage and pair them with whimsical striped straws from Jack and Lulu. Enjoy what’s last of the summer sunsets while sipping on the porch!
For the Coffee Addict: A few tins of the absolutely delicious Sant’ Eustachio Coffee from a small cafe in Rome will keep her energized {for now?}.
For the Glamour Girl: A bundle of flowers is always a lovely gift – but to show up with a pre-arranged bowl of blooms in a gorgeous vase like this Kate Spade rose bowl is the gift that keeps on giving.
{image taken from lonny.com}
When You’re the House-guest: When visiting Charlotte’s family in Sydney, they had us sign a guestbook that her parents had started decades ago. To flip through the pages showcasing a multitude of residences made me die to know Char’s parents’ life story. Encourage your hostess to keep the book forever, have their guests write a bit about their stay and the activities enjoyed, so they can stroll down memory lane time and time again.
For the Potluck You Don’t Have Time to Prepare For: A vintage dishtowel enveloping a few fresh demi-baguettes and a good jam is a simple and delicious addition to any get together.
{image taken from marthastewart.com}
For the Girly Girl: Select a few of your favorite nail polish colors and pair with a gift certificate for a manicure. After your hostess ends the evening with dish-pan-hands in your honour, she’ll certainly deserve it! {Here are my current Essie loves from left to right: Tart Deco, Blushing Bride and Vermillionaire}
For the Day of the Large Affair: Ding-dong-ditch your hostess the morning of her gathering. She’ll no doubt be busy all day bustling around town, tidying up her home and preparing loads of details for the evening soiree. Allow her to enjoy a hardy breakfast by putting together a basket packed with fresh scones, jams, juice, milk and note about how excited you are to join them later.
{image taken from marthastewart.com}
For the Little Lady Who’s got it All: A simple and elegant cashmere throw can be used tossed on an armchair for an added punch of color, used as a wrap on an alfresco evening outdoors or brought on any flight to avoid the scratchy, questionable blankets the flight attendants hand out. This versatile gift {from William Sonoma Home} is sure to impress.
For the Home Chef: Allow your hostess to collect recipes in style with this charming recipe box from Dabney Lee.
For Her Coffee Table I – The Prep: A Privileged Life – Celebrating WASP Style. This ode to icons of elegant living {including Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy} is perfect for your boarding school roomie.
For Her Coffee Table II – The Francophile: Paris. Dreamy photographs by famed photographer, Elliott Erwitt, is sure to inspire her next trip to the city of lights!
For Her Coffee Table III – The ‘Always Updating my Interiors’ Friend: Hue. This Kelly Wearstler book of glamorous and eclectic interior projects is coveted by those looking for style direction.
Hmm…It’s been too long since I’ve hosted a gathering…To our friends: I take no offense if you borrow these ideas…come on over!!
An absolute favorite couple of mine, Emma and Tom, just recently had their engagement shoot with their dreamy photographer Jeremy of Studio This Is. The pictures were too cute for words and I needed to share a few from the fun, whimsical afternoon…
After a relaxing afternoon in the sun, Emma and Tom decided to move inside for a little paint project…
We are planning their wedding for this New Year’s Eve {as you can see!}. The wedding is going to be an absolute stunner from start to finish as their wintry black-tie affair will be laden with special details to reflect their spot-on style and fantastic taste, the grooms’ classic English heritage and the bride’s love of all things charming and fashionable. The wedding will be held at a private club in the Gold Coast with decor designed to make guests drool, cuisine paired with cocktails dreamed up by family friend and the head chef of The Club – all with the true focus on family, friends and the undeniable love shared between Emma and Tom.
We’ll be certain to share the end result early next year, but until then…you’ll just have to wait!
Bliss had an absolutely nutty event this past weekend, we’re dying to share! The event was in celebration of a fantastic couple’s 25th wedding anniversary – and the inspiration was Animal House. {Well…Animal House designed to the nines and planned to perfection!} As guests were encouraged by the charming invitations Renny and Cheree Berry designed, they all arrived in full toga costumes – some fashioned from simple bed sheets, others seemingly put together by guests’ talented stylists.
The event was held at one of my absolute favorite venues, the Ivy Room. Not only is the ballroom versatile and elegant, but there is an outdoor courtyard that is truly an unexpected oasis in the heart of the city…and on top of it all – we really just love love love working with the dreamy duo that run the Ivy Room, Donna and Matt!
Guests arrived for cocktails in the courtyard, serenaded by the ethereal strummings of a harpist.
A crisp color palette of white and gold popped against the lush ivy backdrop of the courtyard.
Oversized garden-urns-turned-highboys further reflected the serene surroundings.
Stone statues were brought in and nestled into the scenery…they could not have looked more comfortable in their urban home for the evening if they were ancient ruins in Greece!
Guests moved inside to the themed setting dressed and draped to perfection by Erin at Heffernan Morgan.
Intimate lounges were created with sky-high cabanas complete with sofas, upholstered chairs and ottomans.
Billowing gauzy fabrics cinched by golden tassels added to the glamorous, festive feeling.
Etched golden votives twinkled as feathery maidenhair ferns danced in the bustle of the party.
Food stations were positioned around the room, each paired with perfect alcohol partners…Sushi and sake, greek flavors and ouzo and latin with tequila! The party atmosphere took no time to kick into high gear – guests took full advantage of Entertaining Companies’ delicious displays.
Living statues were positioned both in the garden and in the ballroom – a fabulous and playful addition!
And…the one and only Otis Day surprised guests with tunes from the iconic movie!! He was an absolute blast – the dance floor has never been more packed! {and…he LOVED Renny!}
The party went on and on and on…and I can’t tell you how much we love loved the absolute fabulousness of this themed event as it paired perfectly with a to-die-for sense of humor that kept smiles on our faces all night long!
{event credits} floral and decor: heffernan morgan, catering: entertaining company, lighting: frost, venue: the ivy room, invitations: cheree berry, band: underwater people and otis day
Preparing for a bridal shower tomorrow, I popped by the floral market early this morning. {After a quick spin around the French Market on Clinton for a latte and macarons – loving the start to this day!} To my complete astonishment and utter joy, I stumbled upon heaps of delicious Coral Charm peonies!!
Peonies in August?! Quality and colorful peonies in August?! I tell you no lie…every now and then we may be graced with this delight, but please please please don’t start changing your floral decor plan for your wedding later this month – the price tag is hefty and availability is extremely limited.
Here are a few Coral Charm-inspired images…
i love you, too.
The more delicate ‘cup’ variety have loads of golden anthers for a beautiful and bright color contrast.
Love the abundant blooms showcased in a polished silver urn.
Not a peony. But would certainly love to sip one of these beauties while gazing at a fresh bundle of them!
Love the simple drama of a long table with individual bud-vases displaying the rolling landscape of peonies.
Look at this size of this! It is not unusual to get lucky with blooms that develop to be the size of a salad plate!
Yes, perhaps I will set-up a beverage station with a setting inspired by the coral peony. Well, it may have to be next time – the color palette for tomorrow is robin’s egg blue and yellow! {Bugger!}
{image credits} tagged peony by mary ruffle, images 2-6 from martha stewart, libation station by sarah chen photography
The media coverage has been quite silly – deeming Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky’s nuptials ‘the wedding of the decade’, unknowingly estimating a total price-tag of ‘millions of dollars’, discussing the heaps of celebs that they assumed would be in attendance and on and on and on…
All of that said, I have to admit, I’ve been quietly eager to learn {legit} details of the celebration – as a tented soiree held on a sprawling estate in sleepy riverside community Rhinebeck NY seems just my style…
Here are the few images we’ve seen from Chelsea and Marc’s lovely day:
The 50 acre Astor Courts Estate sits proudly along the Hudson River.
As everyone knows by now, Chelsea wore a gorge Vera Wang gown, carried a creamy and tailored bouquet {is it all hydrangea and garden roses? gardenia’s? I can’t quite tell!} and was escorted down the aisle by her father. {PS: even ‘American Royalty’ use the understated white folding garden chairs – love the cost effective decision!}
The interfaith ceremony took place under a natural chuppah, laden with what seems to be woody and gnarly grapevine studded with white roses and hydrangea. Their custom Ketubah {the Jewish marriage agreement} was displayed in the background.
The handsome couple had absolutely stunning weather for their special day. I am so proud that {even though I am ultimately interested} they decided to keep the details hushed, focusing on the private celebration of their new lives together.
Mazel Mazel.
{image credits} all images taken from the huffington post
The buzz has begun. Famed LA cupcake bakery has opened up shop on Walton. The already bustling neighborhood is now teeming with patient people coming to sample the sweet treats.
I must admit, I’m known to be a bit of a cupcake connoisseur…and a tough critic, loyal to local favorite: Sweet Mandy B’s. So, earlier this morning, my husband and I decided to take Illie on a walk to judge for ourselves.
We got there shortly after opening, the line was not yet out the door. However, the wait was still {seemingly unnecessarily?} quite long. We picked up a four-pack of varied flavors and a little something for the pooch and hiked back home.
We sampled {clockwise from the left} vanilla cake with milk chocolate frosting, black and white, banana with vanilla frosting and vanilla with vanilla and sprinkles.
A sugar-high and few glasses of milk later – we had come to our decision…
My heart and cravings belong to Sweet Mandy B’s…Cupcake Champion.
While I’m barely able to keep my head above water as I catch up from being away, I gaze longingly at the petite take-away card from one of my favorite pastry shops in San Francisco. Am I tormenting myself? Perhaps. But I must do this little shop justice and spend just a minute gushing…
We initially stumbled upon Miette in Hayes Valley – quite simply because we couldn’t miss it! Caroline’s apartment sits happily atop the charming storefront! {The other location is housed in the historic Ferry Building.} I know I use the word charm as an adjective quite a bit, but I must profess, this cutie little shop simply oozes charm and must have been part of the words origin!
Miette’s owner, Megan Ray, originally started the company at a farmers market. She notes influences from candy stores in Vienna to the wild blackberries growing around her home. Her ingredients {oh the joy of living in Northern California} come from local, family owned farms and mills and are most often organic and sustainably produced.
Miette is known for many things – among them their gorgeous house-made desserts: cakes, cupcakes, tarts, cookies to name a few. In fact, unbeknownst to my love-at-first-sight {and bite}, Conde Nast named Miette one of the Top Ten Pastry Shops in the World! Sweet Goodness – what an accolade!!!
Here is some more eye candy…
I am a sugar-candy lover! {Said loud and proud!} Beautiful jars of candy are displayed in an orderly fashion, waiting for the taking.
Oooh…the macarons. Even though famed Paulette Macaron is less than two blocks away, I have to say Miette’s macarons were absolutely noteworthy!
A childhood favorite: Cotton Candy! The adorable boutique also creates the crave-worthy airy confection made-to-order! My favorite was the vanilla bean.
These crispy house-made graham crackers were to die for with a chilled glass of milk!
{Sigh.} Well, lucky for me {and not my thighs}, their cookies, macarons and confections are all available for mail order. Perhaps we should make it a weekly delivery?
Sweet Dreaming…
{image credits} images taken from miette website. cotton candy image from martha stewart
After an absolute dreamy girls getaway to San Francisco, I’ve come back to Windy City realities…And while I’m usually quite obsessed and proud of our city – I find myself yearning for the mass amounts of charm that San Fran seems to offer around every corner, down every alley and in each sweet cafe.
It’s only been mere days, and I already miss the cutie shops and needed a fix of vintagey Frency finds – so a quick spin around San Francisco based shop Bell’occhio‘s general store-esq website must suffice. Here are some of my favorites finds of the moment…
Cutie black and white striped grosgrain ribbon is the perfect way to adorn signage, bind hemstitch napkins at your next dinner party or to knot around your keys to fashion a simple {and cheap!} key-chain.
These adorable ultra-mini scalloped cards and matching envelopes are the perfect way to inspire little notes of gratitude or amour.
This French ribbon would look beautiful binding the stems of a bridal bouquet of fluffy garden roses, ranunculus and peonies.
In. Love. with these perfect blackboard oilcloth mats. Use them to assign seating at your next dinner party or used on the buffet to label the elements of your unfussy feast.
Renny first turned me onto this charming red and white string. It looks fantastic wound around parcels, wax-paper wrapped sandwiches to-go or doing absolutely nothin’ but sitting on the shelf!
These petite letterpress frames can highlight a picture, a phrase or a fabric. I adore the girly embellishments!
Who needs to spend time fussing with fancy wrapping paper when these fantastic aqua and red boxes are available in varied shapes and sizes!
While I have already begun to dream of my next visit to San Fran {a branch of Bliss, perhaps?!}, it’s nice to know some of my favorite shops can still provide a remedy for an uninspired afternoon from afar.
