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! 

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?

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.

Rose shaped organic sugar cubes! This is just too darn cute.

Wedding cake organic sugar shapes!

Sea shell shapes! How perfect for your destination wedding?

Don't know which flavor to try? Order a sample pack and customize the shape to your needs.

Be sure to visit their website and become their friend on Facebook.  Be sure to tell them you saw it first here!

PS::  A special thanks to Carter Elite Travel for sharing this with us!

No doubt, it’s all in the attitude.  We can’t control the weather, but we can certainly control our reactions and overall attitudes to things we cannot control.  If you’re planning a tropical destination wedding, it’s not uncommon for the sky to open up one minute and the sun to peak through the clouds the next.  Embrace this possibility and run with it… the grown and sexy way!

Here’s a clip of Molly and Jason’s beautiful rainy day wedding from ABC’s The Bachelor ::

Tell us…

How would you like a wet, rainy wedding ceremony?  I’d totally dig it!  After all, rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck.  [wink]

Until next time!

[Here's to your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]

This past Thursday, @TweetMyWedding of Overheard Wedding Twitter posted this picture of this oh so gorgeous gown!  We would love to see the right bride express their self with this inspiration.  Gorgeous!  Isn’t it?

This beautiful creation is part of Luly Yang’s Metamorphosis collection.  The name of this collection is rather fitting.

Cocoon :: Concept   +   Caterpillar :: Development   =  Colour Me Butterfly

Colour Me Butterfly

We think Luly Yang’s website says it best.

[To your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]

Photo Credits:

Gown :: Flickr Photo via outlier*

Marigold & Tealights :: Brides.com

Pomander Branch & Feather Ornaments :: {LD} Design

White Butterfly Cake :: Who Made the Cake?

Birdcage Veil :: Castle Bride Couture

Feather Shoes :: Halberg Photographers

Butterfly Release :: Lake Lanier Official Vistors Guide

Cocktail Hour Setup :: BBJ Linen

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

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!

How does Fleur De Lis inspire you??

[To your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]

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

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