Board #483: Lilac and Lemonade

Since this weekend marked the unofficial start of summer, it seemed time to post some summer wedding ideas. For today's inspiration board, I imagined a sweetly feminine garden party - something that would work just as well for a bridal shower as for a wedding. The palette is mostly pastels, with lilac and lavender, as well as barely-there sunlight yellow. A touch of deep plum purple adds sophistication. Mismatched glass bottles as bud vases aren't the most original idea, but purple glass is unexpected (and lovely). And how about the perfect recipe for this wedding - lavender lemonade.

Mood: sweet summer garden
Palette: lilac and lavender, lemonade, sunlight

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Top row from left: purple lanterns from Martha Stewart Weddings, lemonade with straw flags from Rebecca Thuss, stamped glassine favor bag by Passing Notes, white peony in purple bottle via A Creative Mint
Row 2: photo of peony bouquet by Jose Villa, garden table from Utterly Engaged styled by Summer Watkins, clematis styling by Randi Brookman Harris, cupcakes with flowers styled by Selina Lake
Row 3: notecard by Ice Cream Social, shoes with rosettes and purple flowers both via This is Glamorous

Board #471: Rough Winds and Darling Buds

I don't know why, but I'm really digging this dark moody gray right now. It feels like such a perfect neutral for this early part of Spring, the windy, rainy days paired with blossoming trees. I also like the way it has a masculine feel to it that balances the sweet, feminine pink in this inspiration board. What do you think? Do you like this charcoal gray as a neutral, or is it too dark for your taste?

Mood: romantic, moody
Palette: charcoal and slate grays, cherry blossom pink

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Top row from left: Carolina Herrera ballgown from Charleston Weddings, photo of table with bentwood chairs by Jose Villa, gray suit from Brooklyn Tailors via this is not my work
Row 2: charcoal gray invitation by Gryphon Stationers, blossoming branches photo by Gemma Comas
Row 3: chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat, photo of car and oak tree by Jose Villa, flowers by Saipua

Board #465: Lily-of-the-Valley Revisited

Though one of the first inspiration boards I ever did had a lily-of-the-valley theme, I figure that was long enough ago that I could revisit it (and hopefully improve it) without boring too many folks. It's a classic choice for weddings - it looks like teeny wedding bells, and is such a charming harbinger of Spring. It's not the cheapest flower out there (um, at all), and it takes a ton of them to get any sort of volume, but just a few pips in your bouquet, sugar versions on your cake, or vintage millinery flowers on your ring pillow adds a touch of the classic and timeless.

Mood: traditional spring wedding
Palette: classic green and white

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Top row from left: bud vases with lily-of-the-valley from Rebecca Thuss, individual lily-of-the-valley favors from Martha Stewart, lily-of-the-valley boutonniere by Flowerwild
Row 2: ivy garland photo by Elizabeth Messina, cake decorated with sugar flowers via The Bride's Guide
Row 3: flower girl and seating cards both from Martha Stewart Weddings, Jacqueline Bouvier
Row 4: ring pillow with vintage millinery lily-of-the-valley from Rebecca Thuss, lily-of-the-valley bouquet photo by Aaron Delesie, calligraphy on green envelope by Tara Jones

Board #464: Black Slate and Spring

Doesn't this green remind you of the tiny leaf buds that start popping out in early spring? Inspired by this stunning photo of Vera Wang's green dress, I thought black slate (a sort of chalkboard gray) and leaf bud green would be a lovely and unexpected Spring palette, and a nice choice for the first inspiration board of March. It has a slightly modern feel that balances sweetly romantic details like bows and springerle cookies and vines, and I think it could work in a wide range of venues from an historic estate to an industrial loft.

Mood: romance with a modern twist
Palette: black slate, pastel spring green, cream white

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Top row from left: pale green Vera Wang dress from Charleston Weddings, centerpiece in zinc container by Dandelion Ranch, chalkboard in ornate frame from Blue Bell Bazaar
Row 2: gray bow corsage by A Alicia, veil from Charleston Weddings, springerle cake from Martha Stewart
Row 3: Amy Butler Design via The City Sage, customized gift bags by Laura Hooper, bouquet by Ariella Chezar, photo with green grapes by Meg Matyia

Laura Hooper is a sponsor of Snippet & Ink.

#463: Robin's Egg Blue

Well, it took me long enough, but here's today's inspiration board! Robin's egg blue for a sophisticate Spring wedding. Creamy white and outdoor garden green keep it fresh and sophisticated, as does using mostly white flowers for bouquets, with ribbons in blue. And for anyone who has the original issue of Martha Stewart Weddings that has the blue cake in it, you'll be able to see that the pale blue frosting is flecked with vanilla beans, making it look just like a robin's egg!

Mood: sophisticated spring garden
Palette: robin's egg blue, spring green, cream

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Top row from left: hydrangea bouquet with blue moire ribbon and pussy willow nest both from Martha Stewart, blue flower girl dress from Flora and Henri
Row 2: bouquet with lace by The Green Vase, robin's egg blue cake from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: plantation house photo by Caleb Chancey, nests under cloches from Williams-Sonoma, bay leaf chair garlands photo by Meg Smith
Row 4: Modern Day Design muscari boutonnieres photo by Jose Villa, rice packets from Martha Stewart Weddings, Marie-Chantal ring bearer outfit from Brides UK, blue and white favors from Martha Stewart Weddings

Board #462: Pansies and Blush

I don't know about you, but Spring cannot come soon enough. But since we can't rush nature, I thought I'd put together an inspiration board based on one of the sweetest Spring flowers - pansies. Though they're not the best flowers for bouquets - they're awfully delicate and tend to wilt out of water, plus they have short stems that make them tricky to bundle up - it can be done if you really have your heart set on it. They also make delightful potted decorations, or even potted individually as favors or attendant gifts (here is a beautiful example using mercury glass votives and African violets). Though this is certainly a feminine color scheme, I think the richness of the purple and the hints of sage green keep it from being overly sweet.

Mood: sweet spring
Palette: palest blush pink, rich purple, a touch of faded sage

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Top row from left: violet and pansy nosegay by Matthew Robbins for Martha Stewart Weddings, vintage dress and African violets both from Martha Stewart
Row 2: sugared chocolate truffles and embossed scallop-edged card both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: calligraphy cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, Leone Pastilles photo from flickr, pale periwinkle bridesmaid dresses from Brides

Board #429: Violets and Pansies

I know I've been mostly posting autumn inspiration boards lately since it's, um, autumn. But for some reason I was feeling inspired by pansies and violets, and just had to make a sweet little wedding board with them as the focus. Cut pansies don't last very long when they're cut, and they wilt quickly when out of water, so potted pansies and violets are a good choice - and can double as favors for your guests. If you want to use them in your bouquet, keep it in water until the very last minute.

Mood: simple romantic whimsy
Palette: violet, lavender, green, gray

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Top row from left: photo with short ruffled dress and parasol by Jessica Kettle, purple gingham shirt with linen jacket and black bowtie photo by Tec Petaja, escort cards with potted violets by Ariella Chezar, gray floral headband photo by Stephanie Williams via Utterly Engaged
Row 2: violet and pansy nosegay by Artfool, photo with vintage Mustang by Erin Hearts Court, violet and gray notecard by Ice Cream Social, pansy place setting via Blomsterverkstad
Row 3: pinwheels from Hatch Creative Studio, galvanized metal lemonade dispenser via Wedding Chicks, potted pansy centerpiece photo by Meg Matyia, gray and white buttons designed by Passing Notes

Board #387: Jadeite and Lawn

The beautiful weather we've been having has me itching for a picnic. As much as I love a casual picnic, I think a more dressed up version is also appropriate for a wedding. In today's inspiration board, I drew inspiration from this Kate Spade ad, using jadeite and lawn greens to create a fresh springtime palette.

Mood: garden picnic
Palette: jadeite, lawn

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Top row from left: Kate Spade ad campaign, photo by Meg Smith, bouquet and cufflinks both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: ring pillow from Martha Stewart Weddings, vintage stamps from Things Are Better With A Parrott, ponytail bride photo by Jonathan Canlas
Row 3: RSVP cards by Austin Press, jadeite dishware via Classic Bride, photo by J'M Photo

Board #383: Red French Poppies

Dearest readers! I cannot tell you how blown away I am by your sweet comments on my big announcement last week! If you've read this blog for a while, you probably know that I rarely include personal details here, and I'm still figuring out how much of my own planning and wedding I will post here, and how I will include it. And of course I want my wedding to be somewhat of a surprise, but I promise I won't keep you entirely in the dark. All of your well wishes mean so much to me, and I know that I will likely reach out for your support and advice as I go through this process of planning. So thank you thank you thank you!

And now, after a week of real wedding features, back to inspiration boards! A little trip to the French countryside, fields of poppies, vintage linens, champagne, baguettes... Something simple and quaint, yet totally refined.

Mood: cheerful countryside chic
Palette: poppy red, pale pink, French linen

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Top row from left: poppy field photo by Yves Samuel, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, attendants via {frolic!}, French linen napkin from Vintage Weave
Row 2: veil via Nancy Liu Chin, Cynthia Warren menu photo by Aya Brackett, cherries from Oh How Charming, champagne cork by 13 Creative
Row 3: calligraphy by Maybelle, photo by Yves Samuel, calligraphy by Maybelle, breakfast photo styled by Pamela Duncan Silver
Row 4: croquembouche from InStyle Weddings, ring pillow via LHEverything, French poppies, canopy and tables photo by Elizabeth Messina

Board #312: Spring Comes Early

I know we're descending into winter, but I couldn't resist the cheery inspiration of this gorgeous bouquet by The Green Vase and the Pierre Deux pattern. Not to mention both of the darling dresses from Flora & Henri. So spring it is. Though I didn't fully embrace the bird motif in this board, it certainly lends itself to that. I hope this gives you a little smile whether or not it's snowing where you are.

Mood: country spring sweetness
Palette: French country blue and yellow

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Top row from left: bouquet by The Green Vase, blue dress by Flora & Henri via {frolic!}, wrapped bottles and bird's nest both from Martha Stewart
Row 2: Lark Creek Inn photo by Jessamyn Harris, centerpieces photo by Ellie Miller, daffodils via Desire to Inspire, blue shirt and boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: egg vase from Martha Stewart, napkin by Pierre Deux, freesia cakes from Martha Stewart Weddings, yellow dress by Flora & Henri
Row 4: bouquets by Artfool, muscari wreath by Ariella Chezar, photo by Marie Labbancz, calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap

Board #197: Early Spring Sweetness

More than any other colors, pale blue and yellow make me think of spring, especially early spring. This board probably would have been perfect closer to Easter, but I so wanted to make an inspiration board using the beautiful Italian cotton ribbons from Angela Liguori!

Mood: soft light, sweet spring
Palette: pale blue, pale yellow, white

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Top row from left: peony nests via Toast and Tables, rain or shine umbrellas from Soiree Charleston, photo by Ann Hamilton via The Bride's Cafe
Row 2: floral headband by Twigs & Honey, Italian cotton ribbons from Angela Liguori, Alan Hannah dress from Brides UK, hydrangea bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: egg arrangement from Martha Stewart, photo from Brides, balloon decorations from Martha Stewart Weddings, boutonniere photo by Lisa Lefkowitz from The Knot
Row 4: photo via {frolic}, monogrammed cookies from Martha Stewart Weddings, cake by Trophy Cupcakes, telegram card from 16 Sparrows

Update! How sweet is this photo by Cameron Browne - and the colors match this board exactly!

Board #169: Spring is Here!

Hello all! I hope everyone had a great week, and that you're as excited as I am to see inspiration boards return. Even though spring officially started last week, it was still snowing in my neck of the woods on Friday. But, it appears that spring has truly arrived in most places, and I thought I'd start back up with a bright and colorful tented wedding, largely inspired by this gorgeous bouquet photographed by Mallory Samson. (Wouldn't those quilts draped over a fence make for a fun guest photo backdrop?)

Mood: vivacious and vibrant
Palette: fuchsia, yellow, orange, pale pink, green

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Top row from left: bouquet and dinner photos both by Mallory Samson, quilt photo by Whitebox Weddings
Row 2: ring pillow photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, green dresses by J.Crew
Row 3: photo via Matt Bites, boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, tent photo by Mantas Wright
Row 4: cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, veil by Leah C., enfinlavoila invitations via Etsy Wedding, centerpiece by Ariella Chezar

Board #168: Erin Go Bragh!

Top o' the mornin' to ya! I'm taking off for a trip home to San Francisco, but I wanted to leave you with a green St. Patrick's Day inspiration board. Lots of shamrocks and Irish luck.

Mood: lucky in love
Palette: green, white

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Top row from left: shamrock cupcake from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Meg Smith, pew decorations from Allure Consulting, love knot invitation by Cheree Berry
Row 2: dress from J.Crew, photo by John & Joseph, flower girls photo by Mantas Wright, shamrock boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: shamrock ring pillow from Martha Stewart Weddings, Guinness beer, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, green bridesmaid dresses from J.Crew
Row 4: lanterns photo from Ariella Chezar, Irish luck invitation via Style Me Pretty, centerpiece by Ariella Chezar

Board #155: Versailles Garden Party

Ariella Chezar's gorgeous flowers have inspired me yet again. This Spring inspiration board incorporates the palest blues and pinks with soft white. Refined elements like hand fans and parasols, chandeliers and delicate toile evoke Marie Antoinette (though not as over-the-top). This could easily translate into a grand event on a sprawling estate, or an intimate garden party.

Mood: refined and sweet
Palette: pale blue and pink

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Top row from left: Urban Unveiled image via Style Me Pretty, blue favors from Martha Stewart Weddings, bouquets by Ariella Chezar, monogrammed parasol from Rebecca Thuss
Row 2: toile notecard by Whitney English Paper, cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Little White Dress
Row 3: photo by White Box Weddings, Amsale dress from Brides, bouquet via Style Me Pretty, photo by Elizabeth Messina

Board #153: Springtime Love

What can I say - I had bad internet luck this morning. But, here is Friday's post for you now: a sweet, pastel Spring inspiration board, with some eyelet touches. Happy weekend everyone!

Mood: springtime fresh
Palette: celadon, pale blue, pale yellow, white

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Top row from left: photo by Jenny Ebert, flowers from Kathleen Deery, photo by Little White Dress, baby's breath bouquet from Real Simple
Row 2: boutonnieres from Martha Stewart Weddings, eyelet invitation by The Lettered Olive, croquet photo by White Box Weddings, eyelet cake from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: Priscilla of Boston eyelet dress from Brides, photo by Little White Dress, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, rick rack ribbon from Ribbons Galore
Row 4: invitation by Modern Press, flowers via The Simpler Things, photo by Mel Barlow, photo by Mantas Wright

Board #121: A Jane Austen Wedding

In my dreaming of spring, I thought I'd put together a little Regency-era, Emma-inspired board. Of course, you'd need to add a top hat for the groom and a horse-drawn carriage in place of a getaway car.

Mood: sweet garden romance
Palette: pastels

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Top row from left: cake from Bliss Weddings & Events, Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma, parasol from Rebecca Thuss, rose bouquet from MS, Alberta Ferretti dress from Brides
Row 2: photo by Jessamyn Harris, centerpiece by The Green Vase, RSVP card by Ceci NY, Christos dress via Brooklyn Bride, boutonniere from Michelle Rago (photo by Dasha Wright)
Row 3: garden arch from Artfool, gloves from MS, rose arrangement by Ariella Chezar, white clutch photo by Paul Johnson

Board #85: Emily's Green and Gray Wedding

Emily is having a spring wedding, with a green and gray color palette, references to modern architecture, and a vintage vibe. This board is mostly green, but I tried to incorporate some light gray. For more gray, I would use gray ink on green paper for stationery items, green ribbons on bouquets (notice the silver pots on the bottom row), and have the groom and groomsmen wear gray suits. I hope this board is helpful for you, Emily!

Mood: fresh, unique
Palette: gray, green, white

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Top row from left: Archipelago candle from Quorra, bowl via Style Me Pretty, flowers from The Knot, cake from MS
Row 2: April Reed cake from The Knot, Lela Rose dress from Brides, drinks from MS, soups from Taste Catering
Row 3: suit via The Sartorialist, Dolce Vita shoes via Style Hive, bouquet from The Knot, bouquet from MS
Row 4: boutonniere from pbase.com, flowers from MS, envelopes by Jordan Ferney, veil from MS

...more 12 Days of Christmas tomorrow!

Update! For some more gray, have a look at this pretty paper by Marimekko, via happy mundane.

Board #67: A Little Bird Told Me...

I love this color combination, and I thought it was the perfect palette for an early spring, little-birdy-told-me themed wedding. The nests as snack bowls are wonderful, and for the gutsy bride, the blue tulle veil is such a fun detail. We usually have panettone on Christmas morning at my house, but I think it makes a good favor any time of year.

Mood: sweet, youthful
Palette: robin's egg blue, chocolate

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Top row from left: stationery from Ceci NY, blue tulle and blue dress both via Shiny Squirrel, cake from MS
Row 2: feather boutonnieres via Faye and Greer (photo by Dasha Wright), nest bowls via Social Design, Le Spose di Gio dress from Brides UK, RSVP from Bird and Banner
Row 3: chocolate eggs, iced coffee and mini panettone all from MS; ribbon wands from Brides
Row 4: nest seating cards via House Martin, nest ring pillow via Etsy Wedding, save-the-date via Toast and Tables

Board #50: Lily of the Valley

A single flower can be the focus of an entire event, and it keeps things simple. Lily of the valley's shape resembles wedding bells, and green and white are a classic combination, making this delicate spring bloom a wonderful choice.

Mood: traditional, clean
Palette: pale green, white

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Top row from left: ring pillow from Australian Wedding Company, bouquet by Bloomery Flowers, table via Toast and Tables
Row 2: cookie favors from MS, cake from Art Fool, seating cards from Beau Coup, photo from Tableware Today
Row 3: place setting from MS, veil by Unveiled Bridal Design, letterpress by Satsuma Lynn, dress by Aria Bridesmaids
Row 4: photo from Brides, Loeffler Randall shoes via Shiny Squirrel, Monique Lhuillier dress from Brides UK, earrings by Prunus Persica

Update! Another perfectly beautiful table and ring pillow from Rebecca Thuss. How could I have missed it!

Boards #39 and #40: Garden Parties

Whether your event takes place in a friend's garden or in the local botanical gardens, a garden wedding is one of the sweetest things I can imagine. What a great opportunity to play up an already beautiful setting. Here are two takes on the garden wedding.

Board #39: Pink and Green

How have I not done a pink and green board yet? It's such a classic color combination, especially for a wedding. Especially for a garden wedding!

Mood: preppy, classic
Palette: pink, green

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Top row from left: garden table, Candy Anthony dress via Style Me Pretty, topiaries via Faye and Greer, cake from In Style Weddings
Row 2: dress via Style Me Pretty, melon balls from MS, potted favors from Brides, boutonniere via Social Design
Row 3: limeade via Good On Paper, invitation by Bird and Banner, save-the-date from MS, planter via Faye and Greer
Row 4: table number from MS, little rose arrangement, Romona Keveza dress from Brides, pink cookies from Rebecca Thuss

For more lovely pink and green details, take a look at this gorgeous post over at Faye and Greer.

Board #40: Blue and Yellow

I know this isn't quite the palette that Classic Bride is going for, but I did want to try and put together a beautiful garden wedding for her that incorporated blue and yellow...

Mood: fresh, lighthearted
Palette: hydrangea blue, daffodil yellow, white

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Top row from left: flowers by Ariella Chezar, lanterns from Brides (photo by Dasha Wright), boutonniere from The Knot, bouquets from MS
Row 2: both invitations from Bird and Banner, cakes from MS, photo by Mel Barlow
Row 3: wreath and parasol both from Rebecca Thuss, tea tin from Harney & Sons, bouquet from The Knot
Row 4: Simple Silhouette dresses via Style Me Pretty, Sika Designs dress via Shiny Squirrel, dress from Brides UK, blue head wreath from Ariella Chezar