Sunday Edition #70

by Brunk Photography

Love Shoot: Annie & Jared

Remember that NYC engagement shoot giveaway from a couple of months ago? Well Bryan Johnson from A Bryan Photo sent over these photos and 8mm from the winning couple, Annie and Jared, and I love the way they turned out. Winter in New York is so romantic...

(View a larger version here.)

Thanks so much to A Bryan Photo for sharing Annie and Jared's love shoot and 8mm with us! You can see more fun pics from their trip to NYC over on the A Bryan Photo blog. Also, one more big thank you to all of the sponsors who helped make the engagement shoot contest possible: Cypress Albums, Richard Photo Lab, Traveler's Joy, and Pro8mm who donated all of the film and processing for Annie and Jared's 8mm film.

Happy Weekend!

I know I didn't post a weekend round-up last week, but I promise I have an excellent excuse: I was having an absolute blast in Salt Lake City at Alt! I met so many of my favorite bloggers, and learned about blogs that were new to me, and came away totally inspired and feeling like I'm part of this awesome community of creative and supportive people - which is so refreshing when you spend pretty much everyday working solo. Anyway, now I'm back, and weekend links are back, too.


{by Simply Bloom}

How about a road trip?

They look like conversation hearts, but they're cakes!

Cute as a button, via Creature Comforts.

Not that I'm getting a tattoo, but if I were, it would be this or this.

Channeling Grace Kelly.

I know I have a new favorite wedding every week...

The beards behind the chocolate, via paper tastebuds.

I want to live here.

Oh my deer!

Dear Valentine.

Excited about this new wedding resource.

Really loving Seth's definition of art.

This is the first I've heard of a friendship cloth, but I think it's a great idea.

And congrats to Amanda on the launch of Ruffled classifieds.

Have a happy happy weekend, all!

Discounts, Giveaways, Etc.

Discounts

Get 40% off your purchase from Nimli Jewelry's "Hovey Lee" collection, until 2/1. Coupon code: HOVEY40

Giveaways

April Rocha is giving away an engagement shoot. See details here.

Project Wedding* is giving away a CameraRenter photo package. See details here.

Camera & Light is giving away a wedding photography package to one lucky couple. Learn more here.

Half Baked is giving away a one year premium membership to Wedding JoJo, a wedding website company. See details here.

Hilton Worldwide is partnering with one of its top properties, the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort in Hawaii, to give away two weddings over Valentine's weekend 2011. Learn more here.

Brenda's Wedding Blog is hosting a carnation and garnet giveaway. See details here.

Etc.

Nelle is hosting a Handbags for Haiti fundraiser. 30% of all Nelle handbag purchases made today, 1/30, will go directly to the Vision of Hope Ministries Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund.

Check out this wedding designed by Details Details, and inspired by a Snippet & Ink inspiration board!

If you're in the San Francisco area, you'll want to check out the Wedding Chic event at Gump's, 2/7 from 11am - 1pm. You'll have a chance to meet some of the best vendors in the area, and some of my personal favorites. See details and a full vendor list HERE.

For brides in the Atlanta area, meet wedding vendors and learn planning tips at The Wedding Experience, 2/13 from 11am - 11pm.

Sign up for your registry with Tabula Tua* before February 28, and receive a $100 store credit.

*Snippet & Ink sponsors

Romantic Pink and Black

Though Valentine's Day is still a couple weeks off, I couldn't resist this pretty pink and black shoot from Ariella Chezar and Meg Smith. The Olema Inn where this shoot took place, is certainly one of the loveliest places I've had the chance to visit, and it's the perfect choice for these romantic details. I'm inspired to throw a Valentine party!


Monogrammed mugs from Anthropologie each contain a different type of flower.


Victorian table "number" cards and paper garlands both from Tail of the Yak.


Ariella adorned the bouquet (which includes anemones, ranunculus, ornithogalum, blushing bride protea, garden roses, as well as a few silk flowers, black silk leaves, and dyed black fairy leaves) with wide pink ribbons and black French net.










Ariella made the pink buttercream cake, embellished with flowers, faux mushrooms (find similar ones here), and a vintage cake topper.




Pretty favor boxes, from Addison Endpapers (510-601-8112), each have a small window in them to show off the chocolate treats inside.

This is just a small sampling of the amazing work that both Ariella and Meg do. And I've said it before, but for those of you who missed it, make sure you have some time to devote to getting lost in their websites. I've easily spent hours delving through all of the inspiration on both sites...

Real Wedding: Amy & John

After looking at venues up and down California, Amy and John visited Olive Oaks and knew it was just the place for their wedding. Says Amy, "We knew that we wanted to keep our event to around 100 guests total, so we needed a space that didn't feel too overwhelming for our party size. Although the property has a very vintage/rustic feel to it, there were also many modern touches throughout. This really helped to inspire and inform the rest of the event design elements."

Amy couldn't find bridesmaid dresses in the styles and fabrics that worked with the relaxed aesthetic she wanted for her wedding, so she designed and made these lemon silk chiffon dresses herself (she also made the flower girl dresses). She was even inspired to start her own line of bridesmaid dresses, Swoon!




From Amy: My hands-down favorite moment of the entire wedding was when John and I were able to walk back down the aisle together as husband and wife with all of our closest friends and family cheering us on. I don't think I've ever experienced anything quite like it.




Other than the invitations, Amy made all of the paper elements, using resources such as Paper Source, Paper Mart, and font websites.




Centerpieces in wooden boxes included white roses, succulents, green coxcomb and scabiosa pods.






For all of those brides out there who feel like they have to DIY everything, here's some advice from Amy: My #1 piece of advice to brides - particularly for those of us who have, shall we say, "control issues" - is to take your time researching vendors. If you have open lines of communication during the planning process and can build trust in their taste and ability to see how you want your event to look and feel, then by the day of your wedding you won't feel the need to sweat the small stuff. The last thing you want to be thinking about on your wedding day is flower arrangements, place settings or wedding favors!

Photography: Michelle Pattee

Venue: Olive Oaks, Sebastopol, CA

Bride's dress / shoes: Monique Lhuillier / Sigerson Morrison

Bridesmaid / flower girl dresses: Swoon

Groom's custom suit: Isaia

Planning: Kim Yee Events, kim_creates@yahoo.com (650-773-6916)

Flowers: Hunt Littlefield

Catering / Cupcakes: Elaine Bell Catering Co. / That Takes the Cake

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Thank you to Amy and John for sharing your beautiful wedding with us, and for sending over all of these great details. Best wishes to you for a lifetime of happiness!

Real Wedding: Jan & Rob

Jan and Rob knew they wanted an autumn wedding in the country, as well as one that was family-centered and simple, so it was an easy decision to hold the wedding at home - a beautiful 300-year-old barn. I have to tell you - sometimes I have no trouble editing 100 wedding photos down to the 20 or so that end up in a feature, but other times it is impossibly tough. That's the way it was with Elisabeth Millay's photos of Jan and Rob's wedding - not only are the details totally fun, but she did such an amazing job of capturing their love in pictures...

I just had to share what Jan said about her shoes - too funny: "I wanted red shoes and I found some vintage red satin ones for $40. But, then I was in Lord and Taylor one day and had gift certificates to spend. I found these red shoes that kicked the other shoes ass!" Her pearl bracelet is actually her mother's strand of pearls that she wrapped around her wrist.


Jan's daughters, Lindsay and Emily, were her bridesmaids.


The ceremony was officiated by both a rabbi and a minister. (Look at the expression on the rabbi's face! I love it!) The only direction Jan and Rob gave them was, "Everyone is going to be standing, so just do it short and sweet but touching."










Baskets of autumn produce gave the wedding a bit of a "country store" theme.


Rob shares some advice for saving money and throwing a great party: "One big tip - rather than get the big 14-piece wedding band, go find an awesome band in a bar that wants to do a gig!"


At the reception, Jan added a leather belt (with "Robert" stamped on it) to her dress, a red wrap cardigan, and exchanged her red shoes for boots.


Jan's advice to other brides: "Pick the right groom!"

Venue: Private home in the Berkshires

Bride's dress: custom by Christina Kara, owner of Blue

Bridesmaid dresses: purchased at Calypso

Groom's suit: Brooks Brothers

Caterer: Max Ultimate Food (who also provided hay bales and rooster centerpieces)

Cocktail hour music / Reception music: Housatonic Philharmonic / Sarah Borges

Congratulations Jan and Rob! Thank you so much for letting us get a peek into your wedding day, and thank you to Elisabeth Millay for sharing these beautiful photos with us. See even more wonderful photos and details over on Elisabeth's blog!