Vintage Wedding Rentals

June 1, 2011 1 Comment

I know it has been a while since we’ve posted – did you miss us?

I thought I would break the silence by introducing you to a GREAT wedding resource.  All you vintage fans will go NUTS over Recollection Vintage Rentals.

I attended their adorable Open House last week and fell in love with all the whimsical vintage beauty they had to offer.  From tiny milkglass vases to French settees, they have a great range of items to add that extra charm to your vintage wedding.

They’ve been collecting vintage goodies for years, so they have a great collection – from shabby to glam – they cover all the bases.  I highly recommend checking them out for any vintage decor you might be looking for.

Enjoy!

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Themed Up Thursday: Whimsical Hot Air Balloon themed Wedding

November 4, 2010 Leave a Comment

This past weekend, I went to a Hot Air Balloon Festival with my husband and some friends.  There’s something so fun and whimsical and carefree about hot air balloons.  I thought it would be a lovely theme for a wedding because they both remind me of lifting off and starting a new life together.

When I think of of hot air balloons, the colors that come to mind are the pastel blues of the changing sky, the peaches and purples that the sky changes to as the sun sets, and then soft green to represent the fields that the balloons float over.  Nothing too dark, all soft playful colors to give your guests that carefree, playful feeling when they come to your wedding.

Photographers from One Love Photo captured a wedding where the flower girl held a balloon in lieu of flowers – don’t you think that’s the perfect way to capture the hot air balloon theme into a wedding?

Another way to carry across this theme are with these lovely Hot Air Balloon save the dates from Go Go Snap.  I also adore these hot air cupcake favors dreamed up by Little Lovely, don’t you?  Along with the cupcake favors, another way to bring hot air balloons to the party are these vintage-inspired toys by Mookie Gifts.

Lastly, to incorporate the theme into your attire, or even the bridesmaids outfits, check out these GORGEOUS hot-air balloon pendants by Margrietje Treasure – the hand detailing on these are amazing!

I am totally in love with this theme!  I need to keep this in mind for when Brian and I have our vow renewal somewhere down the line.

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Anniversary Photo Shoot: Matt & Sara

October 26, 2010 1 Comment

A few months ago we had a Photo Shoot Giveaway contest with Prashant from MFL Photography.
Remember the behind-the-scenes shots I took back here? Matt and Sara were the lucky winners, and now I have the gorgeous photos from Prashant to share with you!

Sara and Matt had gotten married spur-of-the-moment on a road trip.  They had decided that they were going to get married wherever they were at 8am and ended up getting married at a martini bar in Illinois.  I really wanted to include some road trip themed elements into the shoot, along with lovely vintage details because Sara really loves anything vintage, so I decided to give the shoot a 1940s vibe.

I rummaged up some vintage travel cases and found a vintage road map that I thought would tie in nicely with the road trip theme.  I remembered that I had seen an old gas pump in Kemah that would be a perfect prop to include in the shoot, so Prashant took photos of Matt and Sara all googly-eyed and lovey-dovey around the old-fashioned gas pump.

Sara had also told me that she and Matt liked looking at old homes, and right across the street from the gas pump was a lovely old, stately home that was the perfect backdrop for a late 1940s homemaker wife and her doting husband.

Prashant was great with directing Matt and Sara – you don’t often realize how hard it can be to do a simple pose for a photograph. Often photographers will just say “act natural!”, but with a camera in your face, it’s hard to do that!  Prashant gave clear, direct suggestions on poses that he thought would work well for the shot, and he was right every time.

Then Prashant took us to Galveston where he’d found some beautiful old weathered buildings with lots of character and texture.  Rich, gorgeous backgrounds that really made for some lovely photos and gave everything a soft, romantic feel.  I had asked Matt (who is in a band called Silent Canvas) to bring along his guitar because when he proposed to Sara, he had played it for her, surprising her at a restaurant when she was out with girlfriends.

Thank you, Prashant, for your beautiful images, and Sara and Matt for being such great subjects!

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Themed-up Thursdays: Apple Orchard Wedding

September 23, 2010 Leave a Comment

It’s offically Fall.  Pies, apples, it’s definitely that time of year – and would make a lovely theme for a wedding.  When I think of Apple Orchards, I think of Granny Smith greens, delicious apple reds, deep greens and pops of yellow and orange.

The great thing about an Apple Orchard theme wedding is that apples are in abundance and work well for decor, favors, AND elements in your catering.

Begin guests on their journey to the Apple Orchard with gorgeous Orchard invitations like these from Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence.  I love the deep impression of the letterpress and rich colors – it immediately reminds me of crisp apples and that rustic fall air.

Candy Apple favors make the perfect parting gift for guests.  Something that they can enjoy on the ride home or save for the next day would be a welcomed gift, like the ones by Brocade Design Arts.

Apples can also be echoed for placecards – I really love the one that I’ve included above, photographed by Charlotte Geary.  Simple, yet classy, they are an easy to put together placecard holder.

Trips to the apple orchard aren’t complete without baskets.  Pottery Barn sells lovely ones here that would be perfect to fill with apples and have dotted around the reception at your cake table, or sign-in table.

Last but not least is this fantastic apple bouquet centerpiece designed by Meeta Khurana.  She even generously has DIY instructions on how to make your own right here.

So have I gotten you hungry for apples?  I certainly am!

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Themed-up Thursday: Woodland themed Wedding

September 9, 2010 Leave a Comment

The days are getting a little cooler, meaning that fall is on it’s way.  The perfect time of year for a lovely woodland themed wedding.

The great thing about a Woodland themed wedding is that there are several ways you can go about it.  You can either go with a really natural, earthy vibe, or you can go with a whimsical, enchanted forest feel – either way would make for a lovely event.

For your color scheme, think of the rich, lush greens of the forest floor and the woodsy browns of century-old tree trunks.  To brighten up your palette a little, imagine bursts of purple flowers and pretty creams for a nice contrast.

There are so many ways that you can dress up a Woodland themed wedding.  To set the tone for your day, make sure to send invitations that depict that woodsy feel, like the gorgeous letterpress invitations by Typepcast Press.

For lovely woodland-nymph hair, Mignonne carries a whimsical selection of woodland-inspired hair accessories.  This same whimsicality can be tied in with the gents too, with woodland berry boutonnieres by Emily K Botanic Studio.

A lovely detail would be to replace the traditional ring bearer pillow with a gorgeous woodland nest, like those at Dear Jes; and you can even carry your theme through to your cake topper.  Check out the gorgeous selection of woodland cake toppers at Sweet Pixie Pie.

One of my absolute favorite Woodland finds was a custom bouquet designed by the talented Francois Weeks.  He captured the woodland feel so beautifully by incorporating magnolias and mushrooms and lots of greenery into the bouquet.  A really gorgeous arrangement indeed!

What other elements would you add to a Woodland themed wedding?  I’d love to hear your ideas!

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Themed-up Thursdays: Corporate Office Themed Wedding

August 26, 2010 2 Comments

Did you and your fiance meet at the office?  Is that where the sparks started flying?  Why not pay tribute to that and have a Corporate Office themed wedding?

Think about the objects, colors and textures that you’d find in a corporate office.  The navy pinstripe of a man’s suit could easily be incorporated into your theme with pinstripe linens.  You could also include memo boards (like the ones at Luxury Gifts by Nikki) to attach your seating assignments to.

Don’t forget your contacts!  Filofaxes are a fun way to replace your traditional guest book, as seen at this lovely wedding.  Along with your guest book, guests would also have fun with Post-it-note cubes as favors.  You can even have them custom printed with your names and wedding date at specialized Post-it printers like Basler or Image Maker Graphics.

When it comes to your color scheme, think what colors represent the corporate office to you.  I think of navy and light blue, with rich reds as highlights.  Then of course I think of steely greys to go with them.

Alternatively, you could make it even more personal by using the colors of the company you met at, but for some, that might be too much work during play-time :) .

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Themed-up Thursdays: Urban Industrial

August 19, 2010 2 Comments

Urban Industrial themed weddings find the perfect balance of modern and rustic.  There’s that blend of contemporary minimalism with that gritty, urban look.  Think exposed brick walls with steel details.  Great locations to have Urban Industrial weddings are modern galleries, warehouses, or any spaces that have that raw edge to them.

When choosing your colors, think about colors of the city.  Shades of grey work perfect for this, and are a great base color to add pops of brighter colors to.  Perhaps anchor the greys with a deep purple, and then to lighten up the palette, why not contrast with white, and introduce a warm color like a peach?

To really reinforce that gritty, urban edge, setting up a graffiti wall guest book would be a memorable addition.  From an art store, purchase a long, wide canvas and a few cans of spray paint in your wedding colors.  Don’t forget to buy a drop cloth to protect the floor around the canvas, and then your guests can spray their sentiments for you, graffiti-style.

Some Decor ideas to pull off your Urban Industrial event are:

- Homme/Femme Male and Female vases from CB2 really give that industrial look, and are a great way to represent you as a bride and groom

- An unexpected bridal bouquet would be to include black flowers.  You could try Black Tulips or Black Dahlias to make your bouquet look feminine yet a little edgy.

- Industrial Iron Tealight holders from CB2 would also be a great addition to your theme.  The modern boxy shape with the circle perforations and grey, antiqued finish really give that rustic element to the Urban Industrial look.

- Anything raw or exposed really contributes to the Urban Industrial look, so in addition to exposed brick walls, exposed pipes and fixtures also do the trick.  These Industrial Candleholders from Etc Ink are made from salvaged steel pipes and would be a great addition to your decor list.

- Nothing speaks urban more than a street sign.  Vintage street signs would be a great way to add texture and interest to your decor.  Think about relevant signs for a wedding, or you as a couple, instead of just random signs.  A great example of a relevant street sign would be a “One Way” sign.

- Terraniums are a great minimalist centerpiece. You could cluster them in tight groups on round tables, and line them up in straight lines along rectange tables.  The modern shape and clear glass housing a minimalist plant would definitely be a unique and memorable centerpiece display.  L Brandt Terraria has a great range to choose from.

Do you have any ideas on how to decorate for an Urban Industrial wedding?  If you do, please share in the comments!

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Themed-up Thursday: French Wine & Cheese

August 12, 2010 1 Comment

I have a background in Graphic Design, so I am often inspired by graphic and fine art.  Recently, I came across this painting by Janet Hill, “Port and French Cheeses” that would make a lovely springboard for Wedding Inspiration.

The intimate but stately room, with a table of french delicacies is definitely a great setting for wine and cheese enthusiasts, without doing the usual “vineyard theme”.  The French twist gives it another layer of dimension.

Some decor ideas to carry out this theme would be French urns in rich colors, centerpieces mixing flowers with fruit, elaborate cheese displays, wine favors with personalized labels (available from My Personal Artist), chandeliers, dark wood tables… there’s so much you can do with this theme.

I think I need to take a field trip to France, just to make sure I have this theme right!  :)

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Themed-up Thursday: A Vintage Garden theme

August 5, 2010 1 Comment

Are you a Green Thumb?  Do you enjoy gardening or visits to the arboretum?  Capturing the beauty of the outdoors is a common theme among weddings.  Gardens remind us of love and romance, taking us back to novels and tales that set our hearts a-flutter.  That’s why I love Vintage Garden Weddings.

Set amongst the backdrop of nature, your event can be set under the stars, or under the morning light.  There are so many ways that you can reinforce your Vintage Garden theme, and here are just a few ideas.

- A whimsical Garden cupcake topper, like those found at Lollipop Workshop.

- Give guests a romantic floral handkerchief as their take-home favor.  You can find beautiful vintage ones at Sadie Olive, Vintage Nelly, and Artemisia’s Closet.

- Arrange your ceremony programs in a vintage garden cart.  You can find carts at Garden Plant Stands and Hobby Lobby.

- A lovely treat for your guests would be Flower Pot Cupcakes.  Martha Stewart has a great recipe and tutorial here.  I’ve made them before, and believe me – not only will they impress your guests, but they taste delicious!

- Instead of a regular satin ring pillow, have your Ring Bearer carry your rings on a lovely tufted moss ring pillow.  You can learn how to make them at this tutorial at Once Wed, or if you aren’t very good at DIY Projects, you can purchase one similar at April Hiler Design.

There’s so many possibilities with this theme.  What would you include in a Vintage Garden theme wedding?

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Themed-up Thursdays: A School Themed Weddings

July 29, 2010 2 Comments

Are you marrying your high school sweetheart?  Are you both school teachers?  If so, then a School-themed wedding might be a fun theme for your wedding day.

What do you think of when you think of your school days?  Books, chalkboards, apples for the teachers… and if you went to a Private school like I did, you’d think of plaid uniforms.

The best way to make a resonating theme throughout your wedding is in the small details.  Introduce the theme in your wedding invitations so that guests will have a sneak-peek of what to expect on your day.  You could make your invitation look like a note that you passed in class, but instead of ratty, torn-up paper, you could have it professionally printed on cardstock with a feint-ruled background, but have the edges hole punched like it was ripped from a notebook.  Another way you could do it is to have your invitations inserted into a vintage schoolbook, similar to what Jessica Claire did here for her wedding invitations.

Here are some ideas for different elements of your School-themed Wedding:

Favors: Apples, pencil sets stamped with your names and the wedding date, a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird (or another book that was required-reading in school that you enjoyed), a lunchbox with your favorite type of sandwich for guests to munch on for the ride home.

Decor: Apple place card holders, a chalkboard seating chart, a locker to store coats/jackets.

Just remember to carry your theme throughout your event – from your favors, to your decorations.  Have fun with it, and remember details specific to your schooling experience as a couple.  It will make for a memorable day for all your guests!

Don’t forget about our Engagement/Anniversary shoot contest.  Come by and enter over here.

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