Posts Tagged ‘Design’

Themed-up Thursday: French Wine & Cheese

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

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!  :)

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in ... with Dionne, Decor, Inspiration | 1 Comment »

Themed-up Thursday: A Vintage Garden theme

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

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?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in ... with Dionne, Decor, Inspiration, Planning | 1 Comment »

Themed-up Thursdays: A School Themed Weddings

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

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.

Tags: , ,
Posted in ... with Dionne, Chit Chat, Decor, Details, Inspiration, Stationery, Tips | 2 Comments »

Themed-up Thursdays: A Long-Distance Themed Wedding

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

One of my favorite things about Weddings is how personal they are.  The most memorable weddings to me have always been the ones where you can really see the personality and background of the couple in all the details.

To kick off Themed-up Thursdays, I thought it would be appropriate to get the ball rolling by talking about a theme close to my heart – Long-distance themed Weddings.

My husband and I had a 2-year Long-distance relationship before we got married, so we really wanted to reflect that in our wedding details.  Some ways that we made that theme clear was to have our flower arrangements sprouting out of suitcases (the suitcases symbolized all our traveling back and forth), a quirky suitcase wedding cake, guests threw paper airplanes instead of confetti or rice, and our wedding invitations also carried the long-distance theme saying “Brian & Dionne’s ‘Kiss Long-Distance Goodbye’ Wedding Celebration”.

Everyone at the wedding commented on the theme, and said it was one of the most memorable weddings they’d ever been to.

When planning a long-distance themed wedding, think about items that remind you of that.  Items like vintage telephones, letters, postcards, passports and luggage tags are all great ways to punctuate your wedding with this theme.  Other decor elements like world globes and maps would add an interesting, unexpected element to your decor.  Remember, not everything needs to be white and frilly.  Today’s weddings are more about the couple themselves, not traditional frills and lace.  You want to make your wedding be recognizable as your day instead of a generic wedding that could be for any couple.

Here are two great Long-distance themed elements online.  A set of recycled map envelopes from Picklehead, along with a lovely vintage telephone from Tessimal.  If you have any great ideas for Long-distance themed items, feel free to share them with our readers in the comments!

Tags: , ,
Posted in ... with Dionne, Chit Chat, Decor, Inspiration | 7 Comments »

Fleur-de-lis :: Lily Flower

Thursday, June 18th, 2009
italy18a-fleur-de-lys

Fleur De Lis :: Captured in Florence, Italy

I must admit that the longer I stay away from my native Louisiana heritage.  The more intrigued I become with the history, the culture, the symbols, and everything Louisiana.  I’ve learn to embrace each opportunity that presents me to visit, even if for brief periods of time.

My earlier days were filled with blur moments, no real interest, and many dreams of what awaited me outside the “little boot” I know as home.  My mature years, as they so often are, has become years of revelation.  You know:  The eye opening experience builders!  Things that I once glossed over now interest me.

I remember seeing this funny looking three leaf design everywhere.  It was one of those common things that you accepted and never really questioned.  If you know me, you know that I’m a total “find out for yourself if you want to know” type of gal.  I now know this symbol has been around long before heraldry, but thanks to our European migraters, we may share in its beauty and inspiration.

Lily flower also captured in Florence, Italy

Lily flower also captured in Florence, Italy

The Fleur-de-lis, which may also be spelled ‘Fleur-de-lys’, means lily flower.  A lily flower with three petals that each symbolizes something different, something meaningful.  Bibically, it’s a symbol of Holy Trinity.  Writers have commonly described these petals to mean faith, wisdom, and chivalry.  All are aspects a sound marriage and a wonderful inspriation to designing your wedding day.  The outcome will be for more than a wedding day design.  It will be a wedding day design that bears heart felt significance.

Say it softly.

Let it roll off your tongue.

It’s speaks romance.

Soft… Dainty… Beautiful…

Classic beauty that can inspire the masses!

fleur-de-lis-precious-nuptials-destination-houston-destination-wedding-planner-1

How does Fleur De Lis inspire you??

[To your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]

precious-texas-destination-wedding-planner-copy4

Inspiration Photo Credits ::

Bouquet : artfool

Napkin Fold : Roter Ochs

Cake : Sedona Cake Couture

Cake Balls : cake by bridges™

Gown : YSA Makino

Flatware : Beverly Bremer

Linen : Wildflower Linens

Jewelry : Irda Jewelry

Place Card Holder :  French Quarter Market

Invitation : Gourmet Invitations

Tags: , , ,
Posted in ... with Precious, Chit Chat, Decor, Details, Inspiration | 2 Comments »