Out of everything that went into the preparation for our vow renewal, I probably had the most fun and least stress planning the day after brunch.  It was held at South City Kitchen in Midtown, just steps from our hotel blocks and our venue from the vow renewal the night before.

Orange as a wedding color has always inspired me, so I knew that I wanted to use it for the brunch.  It’s so fresh and clean!  I kept things super-simple, bringing in only one accent color (yellow) and using lots of fresh fruit as decor.

Each place setting was decorated with an orange wrapped in parchment paper and tied with raffia.  The leaves were goccoed with “Bonne Annee!”, French for Happy New Year, written in calligraphy by Laura Hooper (continuing the slightly-French theme that was carried through from our RSVP packets, do not disturb signs, menus, and other printed items).

{Jessica Claire}

The bar was lined with oranges and lemons, purchased from Whole Foods and donated to a local food bank after the event.

{Jessica Claire}

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Mr.’s mom and I met with our first florist. It went pretty well I guess, although she didn’t really talk pricing a whole lot and that’s what I was hoping to get out of it. She had us sit down and look through all these books that looked like they were from the late 90’s to bookmark what we liked (for reals, totally not inspiring at all). I bookmarked a boutonniere and that’s it. So, instead, I took out some pictures of what I am looking for. We discussed the types of flowers that I’d like to have…dahlias, ranunculus, roses, stock, hydrangea, (peonies if available), poppies, anemones, lisianthus, to name a few. Still trying to go with that rustic Mediterranean feel…

We have these urns, vases, and candle holders at Pottery Barn that I love and think would look great with flowers { images via Pottery Barn }:

The one in the middle is the one I’d like…otherwise, there are these pillar holders that I think would look beautiful with flowers dripping off the sides instead of candles:

I would love to do a centerpiece that isn’t just one piece but a couple different pieces together like these tables:

This one is a little too girly…just note the setup

{ photo by Erin Hearts Court, via Once Wed }

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I have been so busy with wedding season that I have fallen behind a bit on sharing lovely weddings with all the fabulous EAD readers. But I am so happy to be able to share a truly stunning and inspirational wedding from Labor Day weekend with all of you.

Crista and Bill were married at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) here in Chicago. I was so excited about this wedding, as it was one of the last before a wonderful exhibit by Olaffur Eliasson was taken down (if he ever exhibits in your city, please go!). This was my favourite exhibit I’ve seen in a long while, and I couldn’t wait to shoot in such a colourful and inspiring environment.

Bill and Crista are both creatives, and Crista did a beautiful job pulling together a gorgeous event that felt relaxed and artistic.  It was also an incredibly emotional day, with Crista and her sister crying throughout the day–it was really lovely and sweet, and I was so happy to be able to share in the day along with my second photographer, Frank. Also, a big thanks to the amazing team at Kehoe Designs for designing the stunning florals that perfectly played off the rainbow of colours in the exhibit, while not being overkill. Really wonderful job; highly recommend them for very creative and unique displays and bouquets (we were all swooning over the succulents)!

Opening a present from Bill…

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I am in love with every detail of today’s wedding, photographed by the fabulous Aaron Shintaku (assisted by Ashley Rose) in San Clemente, CA.  Nichole and Joel pulled together the entire event themselves - with the help of Nichole’s mother - and it’s one of the most beautiful DIY weddings I’ve ever seen! 

Nichole is positively stunning, isn’t she?

{Aaron Shintaku}

{Aaron Shintaku}

{Aaron Shintaku}

{Aaron Shintaku}

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We’re welcoming fall this week, and with it, gorgeous orange, brown, and yellow wedding inspiration.

Clockwise from top left: woman in fall leaves from oneChristina on DeviantArt, white calligraphy on burnt orange stationery by Jenna Hein, Costanoa Lodge and Retreat photographed by Jesse Leake via Snippet and Ink, bride and groom with bouquet photographed by Brooke Schwab, escort cards on plaid fabric with fruit via Brides, orange flowers on gravel photographed by Elizabeth Messina via The Bride’s Cafe, lounge area by Custom Event Group photographed by Sara Remington via Style Me Pretty, hanging mason jar lanterns photographed by Gertrude and Mabel Photography via The Bride’s Cafe

So excited today to be featuring the wedding of one of our loyal readers, Anne, and Thomas!  Their gorgeous Sarasota, FL wedding was photographed by Brian and Briana of Divine Light Weddings.

Anne’s Nicole Miller gown was just perfection.  I’m a huge fan of champagne colored gowns and it’s just stunning against her skin tone.

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I am not sure how I came across this blog, but I believe that finding their logo is an omen:

{ images from Orange Blossom Ink }

Seriously, someone’s trying to tell me to go with this orange blossom thing…so off I go for some orange inspiration!

Recently I have been seeing lots more oranges (or kumquats) used on tables or flower arrangements:

{ photo from Details Details via Style Me Pretty }

{ photo by Josef Isayo via Style Me Pretty }

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I don’t know what it is about orange weddings that gets me.

I absolutely adore Laura from Laura Kay Photo (and her fabulous new blog, go check it out) - her work is so classic and she was a perfect choice for Melissa and Steve’s beautiful Virginia wedding.

What’s so great about this wedding is the sweetness of it!  OK, without further adieu…

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Our wedding month has arrived! And, overall, I’m feeling cool, calm, and collected.

The last weekend in July was a whirlwind of wedding activities: hair and makeup trials, dress fitting, and meetings with our coordinator, our caterer, and our photographer.

I was definitely reminded why we hired professionals. Each vendor asked questions we hadn’t considered: Who will walk the mothers down the aisle? Who will take the centerpieces at the end of the night?

And offered useful tidbits of advice: Ask someone other than a groomsman to drive the golf cart. Ask a family member to be a liaison to the photographer. Use bottled beer for the cocktail hour and kegs for the reception.

And eased our minds: My hair and makeup will not be overdone. Our photographer will scout the site the day before the wedding. Our coordinator will decorate and display all of our DIY projects.

Whew! I’m glad such details and logistics are now in the hands of our vendors — our very competent vendors.

And now July turns to August. The first weekend of our wedding month will be spent crafting. We still have a lot of projects we’d like to do, but nothing is really essential. The show will go on with or without cocktail napkins and sparklers.

Here’s the list of possible projects (in no particular order):

• Buy mason jars, candles, and ribbon
• Make chalkboard signs for buffet display
• Write welcome note for OOT bags
• Personalize matchboxes and sparklers
• Print escort cards and table numbers
• Attach escort cards and baby photos to clothes line with clothespins
• Make ceremony program fans
• Make barn wood signs for “wedding,” “cocktails,” and, “party”
• Make “Just Married” sign for carriage
• Gocco cocktail napkins
• Print labels for water bottles
• Make favors (this is a BIG one that I’ll tell you all about later)

And here’s my very first inspiration board that incorporates some of these details:

{left to right, top to bottom: wedding sign via Homegrown Wedding; carriage via Martha Stewart Weddings; flowers from Chelsea Elizabeth Photography; boutonniere from The Knot; escort cards from unknown source; glass drink dispensers via For the Love of Brides; red pail from unknown source; invitation suite from author’s personal collection; sparklers via EAD}

How are you other August brides feeling? Did you get any surprise questions at your final meetings? Can you believe the big day is almost here?!

Anyone who knows me, knows I love black and white together. I love the damask pattern, black and white check tiles, gingham, b & w photos - you name it. So when it came to colors for our wedding (I have really been trying to say “our” not “mine” - it’s very hard) I figured I would be inspired by black and white. I wasn’t and I surprised myself. I don’t consider myself a very colorful person, but in my daily internet exploration, I came across this site and found the fabric below:

Flamingo Disco Dot is the name of the pattern. I was hooked! But how was I going to use this awesome, fun, fabric? I mean - I couldn’t wear it. I couldn’t make my matron of honor wear it - and then it came to me….a photobooth! I bought about 6 yards of this fabric and my sweet mom is going to make a drape to hang between two trees at the reception. Then my guests (ours, not my) can have their pictures taken in front of the fun filled color fabric!

Have I said “fabric” enough?

Anyway, the polka dots above are my inspiration. I love the bright simplicity of the colors. On our tables we are having pink and orange dahlias. My sister and I are carrying dahlias as well.

Bill and I bought Vera Bradley ties and cuff links in a great pattern: Raspberry Fizz.

I am excited to see this all come together. Because I have planned everything down to the teaspoon, I have this “vision” in my head of what it is going to look like. I can’t wait.

Did you surprise yourself with your color choice?

I know lots of you are planning fall weddings so here is some inspiration for you! Amy and Brent were married 11.1.08 and the uber-talented Library member Jessamyn Harris was kind enough to share their Halloween-inspired San Francisco wedding with us!

Amy and Brent did a wonderful job blending Halloween/Dia de los Muertos elements with pumpkins and fall-themed colors and textures to create a beautiful event that had just the right amount of “theme”.  Throw in a vintage vibe and you have a completely unique celebration.

Amy is just gorgeous and I agree with Jessamyn - she has a fabulous silent-film-star quality about her!

Their venue, (1 Fort Mason in San Francisco) is absolutely stunning - it is an old officer’s club from WWII and fit Amy and Brent’s wedding perfectly.

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It’s no secret that I love daisies; I always have, and I always will. (Just check out the centerpieces from my bridal shower.) I love their bright colors and simplicity, and that they represent loyalty and love. How appropriate for our summer wedding! Fortunately Nick likes them, too, and fortunately I have a lovely bridesmaid who volunteered to make our bouquets, boutonnières, and arrangements with the flowers I adore oh so much. Her generosity is helping to keep us within budget, and it’s just so special that the bouquet I will carry will be crafted with such love.

We plan to include Gerbera daisies in reds, oranges, whites, and golds with green filler. We may also incorporate dahlias (the flower of August, a.k.a. our wedding month) of the same colors.

Here are our necessary bouquets and boutonnières: 1 bride, 6 bridesmaids, 1 groom, 7 groomsmen, 1 ring bearer, 2 fathers, and 1 grandfather. What about the mothers and grandmothers, you may ask? Well, I know corsages or wristlets are the traditional choice, but does anyone have a unique idea for the special ladies in our lives?

Here’s some of our inspiration:

{credit Meghan Sepe via Style Me Pretty}

{Michele Waite from Lyndsey + Matt’s wedding}

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