Photo Fridays

If something is French inspired, black and white, and filled with peonies, I'm pretty much guaranteed to swoon. So when Kristen Steele sent this lovely inspiration shoot over, I got giddy with excitement! It's all those good things I love and more! My favorite detail? The adorable bow tied place settings, just too cute and chic for me to handle!

Photographer | Kristen Steele Photography
Event Planner | Mr. & Mrs. Weddings and Events
Floral Designer | A Village of Flowers
Reception Venue | CJ's Off the Square
Invitation Designer | Prim and Paper
Dress Designer | Priscilla of Boston
Equipment Rentals | Classic Party Rentals

I've got a really AMAZING giveaway coming at you on Monday!

You really won't want to miss it!! Have a lovely weekend!

Real Wedding: Katie and Luke

You know when you get a wedding from The Schultzes, its going to be good! And boy, this one does not disappoint. It doesn't get much better than a sweet winter wedding filled with romantic purples and dreamy snowscapes. Even with unexpected snow storm that had this couple searching for a new officiant the day before, Katie and Luke had a gorgeous day with wonderful memories.

Here are some details from the lovely Katie:
Our wedding was January 30th at the Fearrington House in Pittsboro, North Carolina. We were married in their garden terrace, a beautiful enclosed space with a large stone fireplace, and had our reception in the on-site barn. When we chose January 30th as our wedding day, snow was honestly not a serious consideration in our minds. We live in North Carolina, and significant snowstorms are a rare event. As our luck would have it, the snow began failing heavily during our rehearsal dinner the night before. By morning, we had a lovely, deep blanket. 

When we were planning our wedding, we knew location and photography were two of our top priorities. We couldn’t have been happier with the Fearrington House. Their event planning staff took care of a lot of the logistics, and gave us real peace of mind throughout the process. Needless to say, The Schultzes were wonderful photographers. Like all of our vendors, they took the weather in stride and made sure we had incredible memories of our day. 

I stayed by myself at my house the night before our wedding, so I began the day digging my car out from under the snow. That is a memory I won’t soon forget! Because North Carolina does not often get that kind of weather, some of our out-of-town guests were not able to attend. While we missed their presence, the smaller-than anticipated guest list created an intimate atmosphere that actually turned into an amazing day. We really focused on the essential elements of the day: we were there, we had someone to marry us (we had to find a new officiant the day before because ours got stuck in Tennessee on the front end of the snowstorm), and we were surrounded by loved ones. 

This last shot is so stunning!

Photography | The Schultzes
Venue | Fearrington Village
Band | The Brothership
Make-Up | Make-Up Art by Jenny

Thanks so much for sharing your sweet day with us Katie and Luke!

And many thanks to The Schultzes for sending this beauty our way!

Trend We Love

Nothing takes a wedding from drab to fab like gold. A little bit of gold leafing can go a long way. Consider using it on something ordinary to up the chic level. Using fruits in wedding decor, like pears, pomegranates and pumpkins, has become pretty popular. Make yours unique and unexpected by using gold leaf. A simple buttercream cake gets a glam makeover with some edible gold paint. And you can easily DIY gold mercury glass by adding in a little gold leaf. It is a simple and chic update that will add loads of style without loads of effort.

[ Forget Me Knot Weddings ]

[ Style Me Pretty ]

[ Style Me Pretty ]

Etsy Find of the Week: Doloris Petunia

You all know I am a big fan of the statement necklace. But how about the statement cuff? These jaw-dropping designs from Doloris Petunia have me giving a resounding 'Yes, please!' Each piece is handmade with love and can be completely customized in any color or style. They are the perfect extra bit of glam for any bride looking to add some sparkle. Or let your maids join in the glitz and give them each a custom cuff to complete their wedding day look. Either way (or both!), this is one look that is a definite must for 2011 brides!

The designer for Doloris Petunia, Courtney Prince Miller, has many other amazing designs that are wedding musts, including the most stunning flower girl dress I've ever seen! So go check her out!

Photo Fridays

Are you ready? Because today's photos are going to blow your mind! They come for the extremely talented Stephanie Baker, and boy are they amazing! Can we just have a moment to soak in this first shot? Stunning, right? But it only gets better from here. The adorable pup in the pics is Rudy, a wedding gift from a friend. You really can't go wrong with lovely light, beautiful drama, and a super sweet puppy!

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Next week is DIY week and it is going to be epic!

An entire week dedicated to the very best in DIYs from around the wedding blogosphere!

Be sure to come back, you won't want to miss a day of it!

Inspiration Board: Black and White and Chic All Over

Winter weddings don't have to be ultra glam or soft and romantic, they can also be bold, modern, and fun! I was really inspired by this fun houndstooth Kate Spade flat. I thought a houndstooth wedding would be perfect for winter! But a lot of houndstooth can be too much to handle. Keep it modern and chic by mixing and matching patterns you love. This wide stripe works great for the table cloth and some gold silverware adds elegance. Extra seating areas with fun blankets keeps everything merry and bright. For your look, a fabulous bolero is a must! I'm in love with this stunning ruffle number. Underneath, go with a sexy and sharp Vera Wang that is sure to turn heads. And if you're looking for a statement necklace, you are in luck, because this Elva Fields beaut is a crowd pleaser.

[ Credits ]

Top: Style Me Pretty, Style Me Pretty, Style Me Pretty, Kate Spade

Bottom: Style Me Pretty, Elva Fields, 100 Layer Cake, Hello Lucky, Vera Wang

Guest Post on The Sassy Bride

Today I am guest posting over on The Sassy Bride! I created a glamour filled gold inspiration board for Larissa while she takes some much needed time off to spend with her hub. Here is a little sneak peak, but head on over to The Sassy Bride to catch the full board!

Steal Worthy Idea

I think I have found the most vintage glam table number idea ever! This bride collected vintage vanity mirrors and painted on the numbers. So elegant and completely unique! This idea is seriously swoon and steal worthy!

[ Green Wedding Shoes ]