Real Wedding: Vannessa & Cayman

Today's wedding is such perfect summer inspiration - a ranch wedding with a fun and relaxed vibe. Vannessa and Cayman found the Holman Ranch in Carmel on the first day they went to look at venues: "We knew right away it was the perfect place. We loved the all-American, California ranch feel, and the views were incredible! We knew it would be a unique place for us and our guests."




Vannessa's favorite part of the day: "I loved saying our vows to one another. I was so focused on Cayman that I completely forgot we had an audience! And the kiss... the kiss was like slow motion. I had been looking forward to that moment since we got engaged, and it was absolutely perfect!"




Cayman loves games and trivia and wanted to incorporate this into the wedding, so planner Shannon Leahy came up with the idea of writing clues that would lead guests to find their tables and Hello Lucky created the adorable escort cards (guests slid their cards out of the envelopes to reveal the clues to their table). Guests got into the spirit of the game, and spent the first 15 minutes of dinner visiting every table to see all of the clues.






Dinner reflected the laid back atmosphere of the wedding, complete with cornbread and biscuits, macaroni and cheese, and fried chicken.




In keeping with the sense of fun and games, guests took home personalized decks of playing cards.



Photographer: Emily Merrill, EmmyJeanne Photography

Venue: Holman Ranch in Carmel, California

Planner: Shannon Leahy

Stationery / printed items: Hello!Lucky

Bride's dress / shoes: Amy Kuschel / Manolo Blahnik

Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew

Groom's suit: Ermenegildo Zegna

Flowers: Erica Rose Design

Catering: Paradise Catering

Funk band: The Joint Chiefs

Furniture / linen rentals: Classic Party Rentals / La Tavola

Don't you just love this wedding, from the beautiful venue in Carmel down to the lucky horseshoe motif? So fun! A big thanks to Vannessa and Cayman, as well as to planner Shannon Leahy and photographer Emily Merrill for sharing this beautiful wedding with us.

Hello!Lucky is a sponsor of Snippet & Ink.

Board #488: Lobster Red and Blueberry Pie

Yesterday was a perfect day here, and we enjoyed it by cooking out with some friends - I hope we'll have lots more days like that this summer! This week, I thought I'd post some red, white and blue inspiration boards, and I'm starting with this laid back lobster boil wedding. Get your guests in the spirit with lobster bib save-the-dates. How to make things both relaxed and lovely? For table numbers, tie tags around galvanized buckets filled with flowers, and for place cards, write guests' names on smooth stones. Serve up ice cream in paper cups with wooden spoons, and drinks with striped straws. Send guests home with lobster-shaped lollipops. And if this seems too casual for a wedding, how about a rehearsal dinner?

Mood: relaxed, preppy
Palette: driftwood, pale blue, lobster red

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Top row from left: bride and groom with balloons via Nibs, ice cream with paper+cup wooden spoons via Martha Stewart Weddings, Cape Cod photo from Maverick Charters
Row 2: linen ring pillow from Eunice's wedding via Martha Stewart Weddings, dahlias in mason jar vase from Wedding Style Guide, lobster lollipops and rubber stamp save the date both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: lobster save-the-date by Linda & Harriett, photo by Karlisch, blue striped straws via Kelly Oshiro Events, lobster bib by Bird & Banner
Row 4: photo of DIY programs with bakers twine by Leigh Miller, red checked napkin, dahlias in galvanized bucket from Real Simple, blueberry pie

Hello!Lucky is a sponsor of Snippet & Ink.

Board #486: Strawberry and Seersucker

What could possibly be more summery than strawberries? Maybe seersucker? Though there aren't actually any seersucker photos in this inspiration board, the idea is there; I can just imagine the groom and his attendants wearing seersucker suits with white bucks. Strawberry red, pale pink, and cream make for a wedding color palette that's at once preppy and romantic, and totally appropriate for sunny summer afternoon. And for dessert? Wedding cake inspired by strawberry shortcake, of course!

Mood: romantic, preppy, sweet summer
Palette: strawberry red, pink lemonade

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Top row from left: three-tiered strawberry wedding cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, birdcage veil photo by Our Labor of Love (thank you Emily!), dahlias in mason jar from Wedding Style Guide
Row 2: DIY lemonade favors by Jordan Ferney, ribbon necklaces styled by Shana Faust
Row 3: red and white flag ties, tent from Big Sky Tents, photo of red lipstick and curly hair from Locher's, custom napkins and drink stirrers by For Your Party
Row 4: photo by Jennifer Sosa, red and white tie from Billy Reid, strawberry shortcakes from Martha Stewart Weddings

Board #485: A Summer Afternoon

Backyards, lemonade, dancing under the stars - these are a few of my favorite summer things, and they're the inspiration for this summer wedding board. But the overall look isn't casual or slapdash - it's actually quite preppy and timeless. Parasols, fans, and hats are available for guests to keep cool at an outdoor ceremony. Flower girls wear dresses in an unexpected black and white gingham. Hand painted table numbers are a simple DIY touch. Buttercream cake and lemon meringue tartlets are sweetly simple desserts for a summer wedding at home. And if there happens to be a wraparound porch at your venue, wouldn't it be just perfect for the cocktail hour?

Mood: equal parts preppy, vintage, backyard elegance
Palette: black and white, lemon meringue, garden green

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Top row from left: dance floor with string lights and lanterns via Style Me Pretty, guest book table from Martha Stewart Weddings, relaxed black tie photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, panama hats from Brides
Row 2: lemon meringue tartlets from Wedding Style Guide, peonies and olive branches, photo of yellow fans by Stephanie Williams, photo of black and white gingham flower girl dress by Jonas Peterson
Row 3: photo by La Vie Photography, table number via Poppytalk, vintage pickup truck via The Invitation Lady, lemonade photo via Creature Comforts
Row 4: porch cocktail hour from Blue Moon Events, whimsical calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap, photo of yellow bridesmaid dresses by Mark Staff, buttercream lemon cake from Charleston Weddings

Board #397: Love-Love

Inspiration boards are back! It feels like forever since I posted one of these! Thank you so much for your patience and understanding last week - I can't tell you how much it means. Hopefully the moments of total meltdown and anxiety and self-doubt (agh!) will be few and far between from here on out. And now, on with the inspiration...

The other title I was considering for this inspiration board was "A Perfect Match" - I guess that will have to wait until my next tennis inspired wedding board. Green and white stripes slowly turned into a tennis-themed wedding - something playful and preppy, and totally appropriate since Wimbledon is happening right now. And though there is certainly a tennis aspect to today's inspiration board, I don't think it's overly theme-y and cheesy. Are you incorporating a hobby or interest into your wedding?

Mood: playfully preppy
Palette: tennis green and white

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Top row from left: green centerpiece with grapes and pears from Martha Stewart Weddings, dress photo by Shelly Kroeger, soda mixers by Stirrings, bouquet by Artfool
Row 2: tennis balls from Wedding Style Guide, green bridesmaid dresses from Martha Stewart Weddings, striped tie photo by Melanie Mauer
Row 3: striped tennis card by Natalie Eden, Mr. and Mrs. cookies by Soiree via The Bride's Cafe, centerpiece by Artfool, cake by Lovin' Sullivan

Board #371: To Nantucket Island

Hi all! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I don't know if it's that I'm itching to travel, but this week I thought I'd continue with the regionally-inspired wedding boards. Today we head to the charming island of Nantucket with an inspiration board complete with Nantucket reds, lobster and clams, seashells and a lighthouse. Wouldn't this preppy, laid-back party be perfect for showing out-of-town guests a good time?

Mood: classic seaside, preppy casual
Palette: Nantucket red, sky blue, clamshell gray, white

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Top row from left: photo by Zofia Photography, tent photo from Brides, seating cards photo by Stacey Kane, lobster invitation by Bird & Banner
Row 2: shrimp "boat" photo by Claudia Kronenberg Photography, customized cup photo by Laura Negri, goody bag photo by Ericka McConnell, lighthouse photo from Elegant Bride
Row 3: bouquet by Artfool, tent photo by Claudia Kronenberg Photography, clam bake photo via Knottie Bio ad52905
Row 4: sparklers from Rebecca Thuss, cake by Cakegirls, flowers photo by Laura Bruen, vintage wedding photos

Board #146: Hamptons by the Sea

Not too long ago, Erika over at the fabulous and inspiring Urban Grace Interiors featured Snippet & Ink on her blog. While she and I were emailing back and forth, she thought of a fun challenge for me: create an inspiration board based on a fabric sample. So here is the fabric sample...

...and here is the board. A slightly beachy, slightly nautical, very preppy Hamptons wedding in navy and green.

Mood: preppy seaside
Palette: navy, green, white

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Top row from left: farewell flags from Love Luck and Angels, bouquet photo by Meg Smith, photo by Stacey Kane, photo by dagzag
Row 2: seating cards photo by Susan Stripling, hydrangea bouquets from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo from Michelle Rago, invitation by Louella Press
Row 3: photo via Faye and Greer, favor box from Cox & Cox, photo by Mark Staff, J.Crew dress via Brooklyn Bride, photo by Jose Villa
Row 4: card by Lily Darby, centerpiece by Ariella Chezar, chair photo by Sean Flanigan, cake from Brides

Board #126: Seersucker and Baker's Twine

I am finding that I really only like red in very small doses, such as in this board. It's such a dominant, powerful color that a little goes a long way (I mean, there's not much red here, but see how different this board is from the all-white one I posted yesterday?). Those balloons with the number tags, from the wedding of the associate style editor for Martha Stewart Weddings, are one of my favorite examples of a non-floral centerpiece. So simple yet so dramatic. Bakers' twine and seersucker were the inspirations for that wedding, and I tried to continue that look here. I could easily see this as a summer beachfront event where all the guests wear white or seersucker...

Mood: neat, preppy
Palette: white, minimal red

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Top row from left: white flowers, invitation by Mr. Boddington, lemonade from Martha Stewart, J.Crew dress from Brides
Row 2: balloons photo via Brooklyn Bride, bakery box from Bliss Weddings Market
Row 3: tulips from Taste
Row 4: photo by Liz Banfield, photo by M. Polss, photo via Book By Its Cover, tie from Rebecca Thuss

Board #117: Amanda's Blue & Yellow Wedding

Amanda's color scheme is so sweet and classic. She wanted a board that was Tiffany blue and lemon yellow, and that reflected the casually elegant feel she imagines for her wedding. I love the potted flowers used on the table in that big photo, and the tiers of small ruffly cakes are so pretty!

Mood: casual elegance
Palette: Tiffany blue, lemon yellow, ivory

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Top row from left: photo by Ryan Phillips, cake photo by Belathee
Row 2: yellow bouquet from MS
Row 3: veil photo from In Any Event, photo by Jessamyn Harris, tent by Michelle Rago (photo by Dasha Wright), flowergirl from MS
Row 4: invitation by Lily Darby, dress by J. Crew, lemonade, baby's breath wreath by Artfool

Board #57: Blue's Clues

Don't worry about including something blue with this palette. This board would make for a lovely event, in spring or early summer. There's something about it that's as clean and cozy as fresh laundry. You could go the quirky route, and model your stationery after a set of blueprints, or you could go the classic route and stick with a blue and white china pattern. Or you could mix things up and use both!

Mood: clean, new classic
Palette: blue, white

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Top row from left: bouquet from Brides, shirts from Macy's, L'Wren Scott dress via Shiny Squirrel, necklace from MS
Row 2: table via Toast and Tables, Olga D'Gallegos dress from Brides, silk flowers via {frolic}, sugar cone from Jas Townsend & Son
Row 3: tent from MS, flowers girls from The Knot, china via Toast and Tables, bouquet from Fresh Studio
Row 4: paper decorations from Rebecca Thuss, train blueprints, monogrammed cake from MS, monogrammed napkin from Carolyne Roehm

Board #43: Waterfront Wedding

I know there are some ladies out there working with a navy and green palette, so I wanted to offer my take on what that might look like. I leaned toward preppy instead of nautical, with lots of green hydrangeas, but I still imagine this as a waterfront event. Let me know what you think!

Mood: preppy, waterfront
Palette: navy, green, white

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Top row from left: photo by Valls Photographic, necktie via Tie the Knot, pew decorations by Ariella Chezar, table via Toast and Tables
Row 2: photo by Valls Photographic, calligraphy by Laura Hooper, bouquet from MS
Row 3: monogram from MS, Juliet Poyser dress from Brides UK, lettering by Bluebird Studios, boutonniere by Seattle Flowers, Jim Smeal cake from In Style
Row 4: candy buffet and blue dress both from Rebecca Thuss, hydrangea via Living the Swell Life, monogrammed tote by L.L. Bean