I’ve always loved Peacocks and their beautifully colored feathers. I think the look is timeless and I don’t think I could ever get sick of seeing peacock feather inspiration. I am actually incorporating a slight peacock feather touch to an event I am currently working on. When the feathers are added with deep purple, I think it adds even more depth and character. Peacock feathers look great as a bouquet as well and that could be a great option if would like to save money on your florals.

[image credit: purple belt and bouquet- Elizabeth Millay; Peacock bouts and couple holding hands - Caroline Tran; cake and wedding rings - Victor Sizemore]

Happy new year! trendsetting wedding wishes you happiness + prosperity in 2010. There are exciting things planned for the blog this year. So stop by often.

“Baby, it’s cold outside…”

…and that is no joke. With the cold temps, I’ve been thinking about a fun-filled spring + summer – with fairs, carnivals + color galore. Want a colorful engagement session or wedding pics? Take some inspiration from these photos. How fun are they?

[image credit: balloons + couple with cotton candy - Adrienne Gunde; photo booth - Jasmine Star; carnival - Joe Elario; carousel - Justine Ungaro]

No carnivals or fairs near you? Consider a downtown city lights or an outdoor movie theatre session.

Summer is not over. We still have about a week, right?  And, with weather like I’ve been experiencing, I will cherish the week. I like spring, I like summer but I can’t help but feel ‘colorless’ in the thick of fall. I love color and I don’t think fall weddings have to be the usual reds and rusts and yellows that are synonomous. For this color inspiration, I’ve been thinking earthy with a touch of feminine. It was inspired by the great Crate & Barrel – where I saw the pillow below with a sweet (or earthy feminine, rather) color palette that would be lovely for a fall wedding! When fall arrives, that is.

Enjoy the inspiration…

[ image credit: couple + pink flower in vase - Bonnie Tsang  ; cakes - TM Photography ; green floral + shoes -Caroline Tran ;  pillow - Crate & Barrel ]

I was thinking yellow + fuschia color inspiration when I received some of these great images below from the sweet Cori Cook of Cori Cook Floral Design of the bouquets + centerpieces she designed, photographed by Karina Heneghan.  I like how the blue/periwinkle adds depth + even more variety to the fuschia orchids + flowers.  I picture wedding colors like this during the spring, summer or fall at a country club or golf club, or even beachside sipping lemonade with blueberry garnish. I also like how the cake below, photographed by Laurie Peacock, fits in so nicely without being too much color.

Enjoy the inspiration…

 [image credit: bouquets + submerged orchid centerpiece- Cori Cook Floral Design, cake - Laurie Peacock,  lemonade - Martha Stewart, yellow favor boxes - Martha  Stewart Weddings]

It is no surprise I love gray  in weddings + decor. I like pairing it with different colors other than the popular yellow + green. To be honest, personally, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of the color blue. [Or brown while we're on the subject.] For weddings, I always saw it as a common beach wedding color, often used in a similar way. With the peacock feather trend in weddings that came, you started seeing blue used a little more. I have grown to like blue because it can be modern… remember that great navy blue and peach wedding I featured?

So…if you’re going blue, you may want to incorporate various shades of blue [or your favorite color]. Like centerpieces + the like, various shades or colors add depth….be blue – in various shades!

Enjoy the inspiration…

[image credit: cake- My Sweet & Saucy; bride - Natalie Moser; couple in mirror + shoes - Mulberry photo; purse + bridesmaids - TM photography; Centerpiece - Victor Sizemore; Hollywood book - Jules Bianchi]

This weekend’s inspiration is color – plum + silver. I like the clean silver + cream colors, and the pops of color the plum provides. I’d actually like to see these colors for a fall wedding bride who is looking to escape the traditional ‘autumn leave colored tones’ of the season. I could also see this at a vineyard wedding or in wine country.

Enjoy the inspiration…

[image credit: 1+2 Leigh Miller, 3 Cakegirls, 4 + 6 Elizabeth Millay, 5+7 Jules Bianchi]

Aaaah, true Palm Springs style. To me, it is modern meets Old Hollywood Glamour with a dash of sunny + clean…which makes me dream up yellow, black + white. I love visiting-and relaxing- in lovely Palm Springs…so much so that “The desert” was home to my bachelorette party! With fabulously modern + chic hotels like the Viceroy + The Parker, you can have what defines Palm Springs on your big day.  Or if you’re not too close the desert? You can have a Palm Springs Inspired Chic wedding that the inspiration below exudes….

Enjoy the inspiration…

[image credit: left to right... Viceroy, Jessica Claire, Bonnie Tsang Photography, Bonnie Tsang Photography, Neil Cowley via Flickr, Neil Cowley via Flickr, Embrace Life Photo via Flickr, Neil Cowley via Flickr]

This week’s inspiration: the Vintage Rustic Wedding. I was inspired by the image on the upper right of the board, I spotted and that was sent to me by Kristi of KLK Photography. How cool is that photo? I love the suitcases as props of sorts. Why not include vintage suitcases in your decor if you are having a more outdoorsy or rustic affair?

The summer + fall would be the perfect seasons for a Vintage Rustic affair. Looking to add a little more rustic to your place settings? Consider having small chalkboard as place cards – or even a large chalkboard menu that your guests can read upon entering the reception/dinner space.
I also love the image of the bride above left by Anne Pearson Photography of a vintage wedding in Utah I spotted on the Utah Bride Blog.

Putting this together makes me now want to grab the hubby and go have a picnic in the park.

[image credit - Rustic Venue I shot the bride via Flights of Fancy, chalkboard place card - Crossroads Cottage via Event Jubilee, bride with suitcases - KLK Photography and florals in that image - Jen K Floral Design, bride in front of door - Anne Pearson Photography via Utah Bride Blog , vintage suitcases - bubbo-tubbo via Blondie 'N' SC, centerpiece + bouquet - Vintage Design Co. ]

With June comes an abundance of summery colors like yellow, feminine blues + aquas. Spring + summer weddings are the perfect time for those tan suits for the men + and the beachy flowy dresses for women. My recent color love is tropical blue paired with summer yellow, white + and even tan + brown. Tropical blue + tan are even throughout our city home – those colors provide a nice relaxing environment.

I adore these colors for a beach or island summer wedding. Enjoy the inspiration…

[image credit: cake- Martha Stewart, invitations- Bella Figura,  wedding party + bride and groom - Cooper Carras, earrings- Joie de Vie Jewelry & Accessories, tie- Chinese Laundry, pillow – Marie Scosy Cushions, centerpiece- Dilly Lily ]

Take me out to the ball game…

I am a pretty big baseball fan. I love April because it means that baseball season is just around the corner and I get to watch my White Sox in action with my family and friends. This week was opening week, so I thought what better use of theme Thursday than to highlight some fun baseball themed wedding ideas and photos.

Stadium and baseball field wedding receptions are so fun. Why not have a reception in a space that shows your interests as a couple and your baseball fandom?

In creating a baseball theme, the ideas don’t have to be over the top and don’t have to be included in everything. Here are some ideas…

1- Food + Drink: You can have a slightly baseball inspired cake like the white one above by using the team’s colors and a cute bride and groom sports fan cake topper. Or if you are having a groom’s cake, that could be a great way to include your favorite team’s logo…or even have a baseball mit + ball cake.
For drinks, I always like thinking ‘locally.’ For the Chicago White Sox, that could be Goose Island’s 312 beer [the area code] or a Southside cocktail. Another great drink option – the Louisville Slugger. Or you can always take your favorite drink and give it a new name for your reception. Are you a SF Giants fan? What about the Giants gin + tonic?

2- Bride + Groom: The baseball details can be in the jewelry + accessories. Remember the sporty groom wedding bands I wrote about? Or for the bride, what about the cute baseball bracelet shown above?

3- Guests: Tickets can be used as place cards [some venues can do this for you, I heard] and look very cute.  In lieu of a candy bar, you could have a popcorn, peanuts + crackerjacks stand/bar/station and have cute little popcorn bags like shown above. In Chicago, that would mean having the famous Garrett’s Popcorn. Yum. For late receptions and for a late night snack, you could also serve mini hot dogs, hamburgers, baseball cupcakes or baseball cookies, and soda out of the bottle with a straw for a late night snack for your guests to make them feel like they spent a day at the [baseball] park.

The wonderful & huge U.S. Cellular field, where the White Sox play, has a large space for reception with a capacity of 400! That would really make for a fun rehearsal dinner or reception venue. And did I mention parking is complimentary? That is hard to find in Chicago!

Here are a few photos from some Sox fans who had their wedding reception at the park. Even from the photos, you can tell they had a blast!

It’s a nice day for White [Sox] Wedding! Want to celebrate at the park? Call  312-674-5155.

Play ball!

[image credit: 312 beer - Goose Island, cake topper - Unveiled, baseball bracelet - Cooperstown baseball bracelet via Rachael Ray mag, Sox cake - S1 Weddings, white wedding cake - the knot, tickets as placecards - brides.com, Chicago map baseball - Unveiled, Popcorn boxes - Gracious Bridal, cookie- The Well Dressed Cookie, wedding image 1 - brides.com, other 3 wedding images - life on prints, U.S. Cellular image-middle-Wedding Mapper]