I love these sheer purple Louboutins against this dramatic red backdrop. Photo by Karen Wise.

Its finally feels like spring is here! My cherry tree is blooming, the daffodils are out, and all I want to do is host a fun, springtime, brunch.

We could play lawn bowling and sport our cutest wellies.

Then I’d set the table with a simple taupe runner on an old beat up white table. I’d serve a menu of quiches along with a platter of fantastic cheese. I’d use loads of potted plants for decor (economical and a great hostess gift) and serve champagne. Aww, springtime…

Images from top: 1. & 2. Anna Skoog 3. Atlanta Bartlett

Oh my, oh my! I’m so busy this week with a big project being completed (more on that later), parent’s visiting, and finalizing details and design for an upcoming wedding that I need to take  a mini-hiatus. I’ll be back next week!

Image: Ellen Silverman

For this inspiration board, I used shades of purple, for light lavender to plum, with touches of pink for contrast. I picture this wedding taking place in the springtime, a dachshund would serve as ring bearer and walk with a pretty flower girl. The tables would be dressed in a lavender linen with shades of purple for the flowers to create a cohesive look.

Description: Purple, lavendar, plum, bits of pink

Images from left to right, top to bottom: {Row 1} 1. Meg Smith 2. Beatriz da Costa 3. Isabel Lawrence Photographers 4. Apertura {Row 2} 1. Ellen Silverman 2. Polly Wreford 3. Bucru Avsar 4. Amy Chin { Row 3} 1. Erin Swift 2. Beatriz da Costa 3. Nicolette Camille

I love this garden trough bursting with with white flowers and springs of lavender. So dreamy.

I love this collection of watering can centerpieces. How darling would these be an early spring garden wedding?

Photos by Sarah Yates.

I knew I wanted to make a prop for the bride and groom portraits so I decided to hand cut “love” out of the paisley fabric. To do this I printed “love” in large letters on my printer and cut out the letters to create a template.  I pinned the template to the fabric to cut the letters out. The I took the template and pinned it to stiff yellow card stock to cut out a second letter which would serve as the backing for the sign.

I repeated this same process for “Mr” and “Mrs” these letters were used on their chairs at their sweetheart table.

Since this wedding featured food stations, it was important to make the typical dinner menu sign tie into the decor and feature paisley once again. I took foam core and cut it to the right size for the menus. Then I wrapped the paisley fabric around the foamcore like a present and hot glued the fabric closed.

From there, I printed the menus and other signage using the fonts that were featured on their invitations.

The wedding took place at the father of the bride’s estate, but the ceremony was held next door on their neighbor’s lawn. To get from the ceremony area to the reception guests would have to walk through the bride’s dad’s jungle ravine to get to the reception. We provided flip flops for the ladies so it would be a more comfortable to walk to the reception.

Since the jungle ravine area was landscaped with many different paths, the florist and I decided that a trail of flower petals would be the best way to lead guests up the reception. I used the couple’s monogram and the same font from their invitation (by cevd) on a large poster board that would be placed on the bridge that lead into the ravine and invited guests “to follow the petals to the party.”

The couple wanted a very funky, retro inspired party, rather than a traditional wedding reception. Seating, would be small cocktail tables and dinner would be four food stations served on small plates. They knew off the bat that they wanted their photos taken on their vespas and that large light bulb strands would be strung overhead. They also knew they wanted paisley featured throughout the design. Finding the right paisley proved to the toughest part of the design. I found one option that would work, but the fabric company had stopped making that design. I even looked in New York when I was there for the B-List and had no luck finding the right paisley. Finally, in May I went once again to Michael Levine’s in downtown Los Angeles and found the perfect paisley.

The paisley incorporated their colors, cobalt blue and goldenrod yellow, and had little funky 60’s style flowers throughout the pattern. I put in my order for 30 yards of fabric and had the fabric shipped to my linen vendor to make runners for the cocktail tables, cake table, and food stations. I took a swatch of the  paisley to the cake vendor, Rosebuds, and they were able to pipe the pattern onto their cake. I also sent the fabric to the florist, Collage, so she could use it as a reference for the paisley pattern of rose petals I wanted down the aisle. Once the fabric was found the rest of the details came almost immediately.

I love these blinged out purple shoes. Photo by Jennifer Skog.

I’m currently swamped with vendor meetings, location scouting for clients, and oh yes, a wedding. For now, let me leave you with this sweet purple and baby blue table. I love the all white table, chairs, and place settings with the subtle dash of color from the baby blue runner and the punch of purple flowers.

Photo by Ellie Miller.

About a year ago, one of my readers, Wendy, contributed a series of posts about going to Italy to get her wedding dress made by Giusepe Papini.

Now a year later, Wendy was kind enough to send photos from her day. Stay tuned for more details on Monday! You can check out the original “Made in Italy” posts: here, here, here, here and here.

Images: 1. Don Wenderski 2. by Wendy

I’m so happy to present the lovely Chelsea from Frolic! with her tips for photo styling. Enjoy!!!

I am Chelsea from Frolic! and am excited to be on Kelly’s lovely blog today! She asked me to share a little about my thought process when I style weddings or party tables. I love everything to look pretty and just right but it also has to be simple, quick and inexpensive. Here are a few tips for those styling their own wedding or party tables.

1. Think about Location. I like my tablescapes to grow from their environments. I spend a lot of time at the locations and if I have a style in mind to begin with, I search out the perfect spot. This green and white table was inspired by the blooming pear trees it was sitting under. I didn’t want to outdo all the gorgeous natural beauty but simply play off of it.

2. Stick to one or two colors. It makes the shopping and planning process so much easier ( and cheaper!). I based this entire table around a swatch of Liberty fabric and a bucket of apples.

3. Pretty chairs are important. Chairs can make or break the entire atmosphere. Go with cheaper centerpieces and spend your dollars on chairs. It will be worth it! They don’t have to match either. One of my favorite tricks is to mix and match Chivari chairs with chairs I already own. Just make sure they are the same colors and around the same heights.

4. Anything can be a centerpiece. It doesn’t alway have to be flowers. Don’t rule out anything. I am a big fan of using seasonal fruit for centerpieces and doubling them up for favors. Helps with the budget too!

5. Make your table look homemade. Rental cloths are usually the most practical and realistic for the budget, but it doesn’t mean your tables have to be sterile. The first thing I usually start with is a plain white rental cloth and from there I add homemade runners and napkins.

6. Use pretty packaging. Not the crafty type? Don’t fiddle with cellophane and ribbons. Find favors and drinks with pretty labels that match your color scheme. Often you can buy in bulk online or through a local store. I based this entire table around Bon Maman strawberry jam and it made my life so much easier!

7. Hang flags! Bunting is so simple and inexpensive to make. Anyone can do it and it really creates a fun atmosphere. I made this one out of tape!

8. Use handwriting. It adds a personal, warm flair to your day. If you don’t like your handwriting or don’t have time, source it out to a friend with pretty writing or calligraphy skills.

9. Have fun! Only decorate with things you like and don’t feel pressure from other people to include colors or elements that don’t reflect your style. It should be an enjoyable process!

Photos: 1,4,5,7,8,9 Chelsea Fuss for Project Wedding. 2 + 3, Chelsea Fuss for Once Wed. 6, Chelsea Fuss.

Thanks for the post Chelsea!!!

Shoes and macarons? Yes, and yes. Photo by Vogue Girl Korea March 2007 via Fashionation.

The inspiration for this board came from the J Mendel dress in the top row. I picture this wedding with a touch of vintage, a dash of Moroccan flair and splashes of orange and purple for a bright and fun wedding.

Description: Orange, purple, retro, Moroccan

Images from top, left to right: {Row 1} 1. Leigh Miller 2. J. Mendel via Style.com 3. Ann Stratton 4. Meg Smith {Row 2} 1. Hector Sanchez 2. Beatriz da Costa 3. Meg Smith 4. Meg Perotti {Row 3} 1. Richard Powers 2. Mark Lund 3. Portland Mitchell

Right now.

I love the circle closure and the color is to die for.

Asymmetrical pattern? Check. All my favorite colors? Check, check, check.

By Mar y Sol via Snippet & Ink.