Inspiring Finds

This shoot is absolutely amazing in so many ways. The concept of black swan/white swan was done perfectly here and all with some very high fashion wedding accents. I'm loving every image of this story. I only picked a few favorites, but check out the rest on Jessica Claire's blog.

I'm really really loving chevron and other bold patterns. I know I am probably late on the chain, but I really don't care. People have told me that since I apparently know how to throw a really good party, I need to have an annual wedding of sorts to reunite everyone.  Obvious not a whole wedding, but a really big party was be lots of fun. If I do that, these are in the running for the best napkins to date. But who knows, I may be preoccupied preparing for ....... a baby. So, we will see.

Lastly, these little cd sleeves gave me a really fun idea for an invitation. I may or may not be preparing an event in which invitations are in order. :) I love the idea of creating a video (I really wanted to do that for the wedding actually, but time was not on our side) and wrapping the CD in twine with some other paper goodies would be just awesome.

Fingerprints and Guest Books

We have all seen the finger print tree buzzing around weddings of all sorts in the past few years. I absolutely love this take on that super fun idea. And there are so many drawings you could create that fit your wedding and personify your style perfectly.

ETSY

Is there anyway to use THIS inspiration could be made into an incredible drawing turned guest book?? LOVE.

There Ain't No Party Like A Paper Party

You must excuse me today as I am dealing with a whole different set-up which is just taking some getting used to! What do I mean by that? Well, the worst thing (and yes, I know there could be worse things) happened yesterday.

It may sound like I am exaggerating when I say that the worst thing happened to me yesterday, but I am totally not. Something to know is that my life is my computer. I work for myself and I work from home, so without my handy little MacBook Pro, it would be very hard to get anything done in the world. And yesterday of all days was deadline day where I had about 20 articles due. Yesterday morning I went to Peets to find my computer continually acting up, so I went to the genius bar. It wouldn't even turn on by the time I brought it in. He thought it was the logic board that basically runs the whole computer that was out. It costs about $450 to repair not to mention being out of a computer for the next few days. He came back and said there was some sort of water and sticky stuff in the computer that messed with the logic board and the battery. Major bummer. The guy was nice but he told me that this is where the conversation gets a whole lot harder because it costs about $800 to repair. Major bummer. Although I was sort of happy with the idea of just getting a brand new computer.

Anyways, I was really annoyed and freaking out about what to do without a computer at least for the rest of the day when he came back. He said he briefly told his manager what the problem was and the manager told him to cover the repairs (aka FREE) and ship it out! WHAT??? OMG, I was shocked. $800 worth of repairs and the only downside was I didn't have a computer for a week. I'll take it. So we shipped it out and he let me go off on my merry way thanking me for being an Apple customer. And that is when it hit me how smart Apple is. Most other people would take their $800 elsewhere and never deal with Apple again. By repairing it for free they kept me as an Apple customer for life. Although, let's face it, I was already an apple customer for life.

So for the next week my dad let me use his windows computer. I was skeptical at first, but I am getting used to it. He even has one with the tap-to-click mouse pad. The only major issue I have with this thing is that you have to use the mouse to manually scroll down every time you want to move the window! OMG how annoying is that. Normally I just put two fingers on the mouse pad and it scrolls. So tell me people, how do you deal with that???? OMG it is such a waste of time! Aside from that it is just a matter of getting used to not having my programs, not having my passwords saved everywhere and things like that.

OK now that that whole story is over with, let's talk paper! I abso-freaking-lutely love all the amazing things you can do with paper! And with any color you ever want, the options are definitely endless. I actually think I could have/should have used more fun papers in my wedding. So for a truly spring wedding, add a little bit of pizazz with these little guys!

I love simple little flags with something super fun on them. It is by far one of the easiest ways to personalize a wedding ever!

Source: Credit, Credit, Credit

{Finding the Balance} Modern + Vintage

While trying to put together and inspiration board for my home I ran into something quite funny. I found the two most perfect pieces of furniture for my home but didn't buy them because they were very shabby chic. Nothing wrong with that although I have slowly transformed my entire house from black simple furniture to white shabby. I am trying to break away from that and mix shabbs with some super modern pieces to balance and keep it classic. The point of that whole story is that it got me thinking the same thing about weddings. Right now trends are deep in vintage and shabby, but finding the perfect mix of that reclaimed shabbs and that classic modern look has to exist. I would love to do more on this and see what I can create with this look (maybe a styled shoot is in my future!) but for now I loved these photos as a representation of both. The bell, vintage. The pin wheel, modern. Super cute spring modern invites on vintage hankies. Lovely. Totally lovely.

Source: Grey Likes, Oh So Beautiful Paper,  Pinwheels

Girls Shoot In Napa by Scott Andrew Studio

You may remember that I spent my bachlorette weekend in Napa, one of my fave places. I happen to have a favorite restaurant up there, Brix, which I go to every time I am in the area (which as I have said before, was the place that Ian should have proposed to me...just saying) Brix is also a place I have been dying to do a photo shoot at. DYING. The patio, vineyard, fountains and train tracks make for some absolutely incredible photo ops. I feel in love with Scott Andrew after seeing the most gorgeous amazing lavender wedding ever. Bonus: he shoots on film, which I just love. That takes a ridiculous amount of talent in this digitally-dominated world. Seeing as I used to shoot on film and develop in the dark room, I am slightly partial to it.

Anyways, he agreed to do a shoot with us before dinner. 6 loud girls with a little wine can be a challenge, and he was quite the trooper. Not to mention he was incredibly nice and a fun guy to spend a bit of time with.

I grabbed what few props I had and brought them along, but nothing much. I would love to do a proper over-the-top incredible photo shoot at this location. Maybe one of these days.

Guest Book Ideas You Can Use After The Wedding

I went with signing windows as my choice of guest book. I gotta say, it wasn't as cool as I thought it was going to be, but that was probably my fault.I am really big on having a guest book that you can use or hang after the wedding as a keepsake that can be forever seen. I ended up having two old windows and several colored sharpies. Let's just saw Sharpie's are not the best writing tool for window glass. Since I had two, each are equally bare and neither are full enough to justify hanging on a wall. But the idea was cute and the words people said were awesome.

So here are a few way cooler ideas than the one I chose. Ideas that could be used after the wedding in your home.

Source: Shutters, Guest Book, Frame

My favie fave is the shutter. If I did that, I would actually purchase the shutters and paint them awesome colors like the ones above. Those would make for some interesting art in your home by themselves but imagine having cute note cards popping out. Everything you looked at them, it would be a little surprise every time.

Etsy Wedding Round-Up

I don't often have much luck searching for anything on Etsy, but somehow this time I felt like I struck gold. I found so many adorable little details that would be perfect for any wedding. I even saved a few to purchase later :)

1. Mr. and Mrs Signs: I love the "I'm her Mr." "I'm his Mrs." signs. Talk about totally cute!

2. Floral Belt: Next up are a few floral details that really rev up the wedding day look such as this blush pink belt.

3. Paper Pom Poms: Seeing as it all has to go in style, those purple and blush pink paper pom poms are the perfect addition.

4. Print: Now I don't consider myself in any way shape or form to be a font geek. In fact, I am rather the opposite, aka. I have one font that I like and that is my default for anything and everything. (ask Ian, srsly, he hates that I do that.....but typography is his thing, not mine.) But that little eye chart sign which happens to say "I love waking up next to you every morning." Now that, I want.

5. Burlap Bag Favors: Lastly, a perfect favor. Stamped burlap bags. Honestly that last sentence couldn't  have had more of my favorite words in it. I love stamps, I love burlap and I love bags (although I can never find enough things to put in little bags like this.)

And there you have it, my Etsy round up of the century. I am definitely going to buy a few details for the wedding based off of this board, although I am not sure what will go where yet, no surprise there, my biggest problem ever is deciding what to put where.

There's S'More?

Just over a month until the big day arrives and I can't help but thinking how much I want this to be over with! Ok not in a bad way, but srsly, this is what people must feel like when they are 8 months pregs and just want it to be over and move onto the next step. I am so ready for the wedding day and to go to Australia. So so ready. I plan on getting every single aspect done by April 1 then maybe I will have a moment to breathe and of course time to catch up on last minute affairs.

Ok onto the juicy stuff! I am super excited about the s'more bar! I know that I probably won't eat anything, but I am still excited about all the people around the firepit roasting s'mores. It always seems to be a really fun activity for everyone. This is a totally extra little thing for people to look forward to, on top of the regular favors and cake. I'm basically fattening everyone up at this wedding! :)

Source: Project Wedding, Caroline Tran, Third

Hanging Centers

Making chandeliers out of less than expected items always ends well in weddings. This chandelier look filled with flowers and mason jars fills a spot for the statement piece of the reception and remains interesting. I know you all love interesting, and this group of hanging flowers in vases is just that.

These guys are totally awesome, but I do have one issue. This is one of those projects that as cool as it looks, it will take SO much time to actually facilitate it. Aside from that, the cost to do this project, what with all the flowers and jars, could get upwards of $100. Let's just say that this is on my list of to-do's, but if I will actually do it is a whole other story. For anyone that can, or did or does, that's totally amazing and I want to seeee!

I other news I am headed to WPPI bright and early tomorrow morning. We are going for 4 days but the good news is that if something happens like all the planes in the world break down and we have to stay another week or two, I wouldn't be that upset and I have enough clothes packed in my suitcase to tide me over.

I come with good news for all you vendors out there! During the time we are in Vegas, we will be offering up a deal for all of you, and I have to say, this is the best one yet (that's what you get for having Ian pick it. I guess he is the nice one!) When you sign up for a premium account, you get 2 months free! 2 WHOLE months. That's pretty awesome.

I will announce the code tomorrow, and I have cards with codes to hand out while we are there. There is a cap on the number of people that can sign up, so if you want to go for it, I would have to tell you to go for it!

Super excited to have an amazing time in Vegas!

Frame It Up

I'm re-visiting the idea of frames. I have had it in my mind but in a totally different way. What I want to look at is using frames as trays and how those would fit with everything else. I am not adding something new here because I was always planning on using trays, but this is just a way more fun (and a lot harder to facilitate) way to incorporate the trays.

This feature on Elizabeth Anne Designs has been an all time favorite of mine since it came out. I keep going back to it to look at all the details yet again. It is so gorgeous and amazing and I want every little bit of it.

Things are definitely starting to get overwhelming with this wedding approaching in just 7.5 weeks. I need to get my butt in gear and start completing items on the to-do list! This was a little DIY project that I worked on a bit this weekend. I have a lot more to go, but this is a good start!