Board #362: Milk & Honey

Happy spring! Cindy's daffodil photo inspired this sweet, simple and light wedding board. Daffodil's seem like the quintessential harbinger of spring, and I wanted to create an inspiration board that conveyed that early spring feeling. Pale yellow, creamy white, and a hint of faded gray. Though I imagined this wedding in a quaint country setting, I think it could work equally well in an urban loft or a favorite restaurant.

Oh! I totally forgot to mention this yesterday. This week I'll be guest blogging over at Nole's pretty blog, Oh So Beautiful Paper, together with lovely Chelsea. Be sure to check it out!

Mood: early spring sweetness
Palette: farmhouse white, sweet honey yellow, gray linen

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Top row from left: daffodil photo by *Cinnamon (Cindy), earrings by Mia Beads, Aubrey dress from J.Crew, hydrangea monogram via Style Me Pretty
Row 2: lemonade photo by Elizabeth Messina, pocket watch photo by Union Photo, cake via Sweet Paul, ribbon boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: invitations by Golden Rectangle Press, photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, bouquet photo by Trever Hoehne, invitation by Float Paperie
Row 4: gray linen ribbon by Linnet via Once Wed, envelope liners via Oh So Beautiful Paper, photo by Tiffany Aicklen via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Board #128: Gray and Yellow

I made a marigold and gray board awhile ago, but I have to say that it's not one of my favorites. I've had a few more requests for a gray and yellow board, this time in more muted tones, and I think this one turned out nicely. The pale grays and yellows make me think of rain clouds and sunshine, like the beginning of spring maybe. And I cannot get over that incredible church designed by Maxim Velcovsky - the modern chairs work perfectly in the gorgeous old space.

Mood: subdued elegance
Palette: pale gray, pale sunshiny yellow, white

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Top row from left: St. Bartholomew's Church via On Decorum, bouquet from Rebecca Thuss, J.Crew dress from Brides, lemonade from Rebecca Thuss, flowers via I Do Vancouver
Row 2: save-the-date via Thoughtful Day, tent from Ariella Chezar, cake by April Reed
Row 3: dress by J.Crew, bouquet by Artfool, invitation by Blue Ribbon, boutonniere and bouquet both from Martha Stewart Weddings

Keep an eye out for an exciting post tomorrow - my interview with the brilliant Ariella Chezar!

Real Wedding Saturday: Jennifer & Floris

One of the best things about my job is getting to see weddings that Snippet & Ink has helped to inspire - and being totally floored by the creativity of Snippet & Ink readers! Jennifer and Floris' Los Angeles wedding has so many great details that they made themselves, with some great cost-saving ideas. And you know how I love this gray and yellow color scheme. Daniel Kiyoi, one of Jen's co-workers, took the beautiful photos...


They sent their save-the-dates out through their wedding blog, and Jen designed the invitations. The groom's mother made the wedding bands as a gift to the couple.


A friend of the couple works for Vans, and was able to get shoes for the groom and each of the groomsmen - for free!




How great is this! I love the idea of doing something fun with your attendants for pics, rather than stuffy formal portraits. Floris has been skateboarding since he was 10, so this was a great way to incorporate his personality and interests into the photos.


The guys wore gray suits by Volcom, the company Floris works for. Floris' mother made pocket squares for each of them.


The bride works for Smashbox and was able to save by doing her own makeup.


Jennifer bought a pearl necklace from Target, which she then took apart and re-strung with gray pearls and Swarovski crystals, and tied it with a gray ribbon.


Silver shoes by Ann Taylor. Inspired by Monique Lhuillier and Christos, but not wanted to spend so much on her dress, Jennifer had one custom made for her by Monaco Couture for a fraction of the cost of a designer gown. The bridesmaid dresses were also custom made by Monaco Couture, so each girl wore something that fit perfectly.


Jennifer and Floris spent $600 total on flowers (purchased at the Los Angeles Flower District the day before the wedding), vases and candles. They saved even more by arranging all of the flowers themselves (with the help of friends and family, of course!), and then selling the vases and candles at a garage sale after the wedding.


The wedding took place at Marvimon in downtown L.A. - an old auto repair shop that has been converted into a cool urban loft. A friend of the couple officiated.








As guests entered the reception area, they were greeted with framed notes and thank you's from the couple, designed and framed by Jennifer.


Jennifer designed and printed out little paper cameras which doubled as place cards, and a cute keepsake for guests. Her parents helped to fold them and put them together, and the whole thing only set them back $15!


Another cost-saving tip, which is also a delicious idea, is to serve donuts instead of traditional wedding cake! For just $88, Jennifer and Floris bought donuts from Krispy Kreme and stacked them up high.


For those guests who wanted a break from dancing (a friend was the DJ), Floris and Jen provided a ping-pong table! They purchased it on Craigslist for $100, painted it yellow for $25, and then sold it after the wedding for $150 - making a $25 profit!


This is probably the most amazing part of this wedding... the groom made this photobooth! The couple decided that renting a photobooth was out of their budget, so Floris surprised Jen (she didn't know about it until the day of the wedding!) by making a photobooth that not only saved them lots of cash ($400 in materials, instead of $1500 for a one-day rental), but it also incorporated the colors and patterns from the wedding. They plan to use it for future events, and probably sell it eventually. You can see all of their photobooth pics on their flickr set.



With the help of friends and family, and lots of creativity and DIY projects, Floris and Jennifer were able to throw a beautiful wedding for over 100 guests on a tight budget - not an easy thing to do anywhere, and certainly not in Los Angeles! They also saved up to 40% on various services by negotiating and making trades with vendors. I'm so glad that they shared their day with us - congratulations you two! Be sure to check out their blog, where you can find the template for the paper cameras, and a little bit about how they made the photobooth. And a big thank you to Daniel Kiyoi for sharing these great photos - beautiful work, and I expect we'll be seeing much more from you!

Board #376: French Flair

Another color palette that I've yet to tire of - I hope you still love it, too! Something about this inspiration board transports me to Paris... A mostly white and very pale gray background is accented with butter yellow and black. Stripes add a touch of whimsy: package favors in striped boxes, wrap your bouquet with a striped ribbon, decorate with classic striped hat boxes. Incorporate figs and blackberries into your floral elements for a touch of black that isn't overly sleek or stark.

Mood: whimsical French chic
Palette: butter yellow, black, pale gray, white

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Top row from left: flower hair piece by Austie, photo from Sunflower Events, photo from Big Leo Productions, Jussara Lee dress from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: photo from Brides, cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Michele M. Waite, flowers by Ariella Chezar from Brides
Row 3: silhouette cookies from Wedding Style Guide, sabayon and berries from Martha Stewart Weddings, iris bouquet photo by Anna Kuperberg, envelope liner from Mika78

Happy Weekend!

My honey's parents are in town this weekend, so we'll be doing our best to show them a good time here in Austin - which will of course involve lots of eating. It has finally cooled down to the point where we can turn off the AC and open up the doors and windows, so I hope it stays that way at least while they're here. Any fun plans for you all this weekend? This is sort of a marathon list of links, so I hope you've got a little time...


{photo by Bonnie Tsang, styling by Summer Watkins, for Utterly Engaged}

Meet Jack.

Loving this sweet new addition to my cookbook collection.

Giant white paper flowers.

Pretty little papers.

Illustrated pie.

Love myself a picnic wedding, part one and two.

And a DIY picnic bouquet.

How about a TOMS party, via Wishfulfillment.

Our almost-wedding venue.

The greatest pillow ever.

Leigh Wells' inkwells! via Design*Sponge

Irresistible yellow flowers,

a fabulous yellow dress,

and sweet yellow invites.

Favorite new venue, via Always a Blogsmaid.

Marriage certificates are cool, via SeeSaw Designs.

Say yes to suspenders.

And streamers.

Go camping and get married!

Green and gray.

Somebody please buy this clutch.

And I totally forgot to share it yesterday, but don't miss my newest color board over at The Bride's Cafe!

Board #70: Marigold and Gray

Emily wrote me and said that she is having a classic, yet quirky, outdoor wedding. Her color scheme is marigold, gray, and cream. Here are some elements that I think fit that description nicely (I especially like the Monopoly tokens - maybe for seating cards or table names or something? - and the shoes). I also can't get over that incredible boutonniere - it just screams fun.

Mood: bright, classic yet quirky
Palette: marigold, gray, cream

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Top row from left: ring pillow from The Knot, image from Karen Wise, Luisa Beccaria dress via Perfect Bound, bouquet from MS, program via {frolic}
Row 2: pavlovas from MS, boutonniere via Style Me Pretty, tent from The Knot, J. Crew shoes via Classic Bride
Row 3: Monopoly tokens from eBay, food and table both via {frolic}, cake via Style Me Pretty
Row 4: calligraphy by Laura Hooper, yellow ribbon, hand lettering by Nate Williams, Peter Som via Oh Joy!

Update! For more on this color scheme, take a look at this lovely stationery suite at Thoughtful Day.

Board #271: Lemon-Lime

How cool do you have to be to wear a mini-dress on your wedding day? Pair it with a chic mini-coat and yellow heels, and you're all set. (Well, that and figure out where that amazing interior is and convince them to let you have your reception there.) The different elements in this wedding board - from the mix-tape invitation to the craspedia bouquet - are both modern and retro mod, and I think they fit together nicely. I included pops of both lemon yellow and lime green here, but you could easily go with one or the other.

Mood: playful, mod
Palette: lemon, lime, white, touches of gray

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Top row from left: le Spose di Gio dress via The Bridal Wishlist, restaurant interior via Desire to Inspire, button mum pomanders photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, mix tape invitation by Heatherjeany
Row 2: arrangements by Michael George for In Style Weddings, miniature limoncello popsicles by Callahan Catering, striped tie from J.Crew, ring pillow by Vané Broussard
Row 3: smooching pins by Button Empire, craspedia bouquet from Bliss Events, Colette Peters cake via Brooklyn Bride, yellow shoe photo by Jose Villa

Board #443: Persimmons & Porcelain

As a bride, I've really been trying to maintain perspective about my wedding choices, and when you look at weddings all day long like I do, it's definitely easy to get lost. It's no secret that I love the pretty details, but there's such a thing as too much. Instead, why not choose a few elements that matter to you and to make extra-special, focus on marrying the person you love and on being good hosts to your guests, and forget trying to style your wedding for a magazine/blog feature. Personally, I find understated elegance to be the most appealing look anyway! So, today's inspiration board is another attempt at finding that balance of beauty and simplicity...

I'm a total sucker for lush florals, especially when they include seasonal fruit like this arrangement from Saipua, with its giant dahlias and young persimmons. That arrangement served as the inspiration for this board: a late autumn/early winter wedding with unexpected rustic details. We seem to see mason jars everywhere these days, but this porcelain version is a refined update, and giving off a pleasant glow when used as a votive. A basket of ganache-filled egg shells is both farm-appropriate and a delightful surprise for your guests. As for the color scheme, ochre is an unusual choice, but used sparingly it adds subtle richness and depth to a backdrop of cream and barnwood gray - pops of golden yellow in the form of persimmons, the bride's bolero, and the velvet ribbon adorning her bouquet. Stationery pieces are printed on cream paper in black ink, allowing unique lettering to stand out.

Mood: heirloom rustic
Palette: cream, ochre, gray, brown

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Top row from left: centerpiece with dahlias and persimmons by Saipua, porcelain mason jar votive by Pigeon Toe Ceramics, calligraphy by Maybelle
Row 2: rustic apple tart photo by Gemma Comas, white ranunculus in vintage apothecary bottle photo by Tec Petaja
Row 3: birthday menu by Cynthia Warren (photo by Aya Brackett), bride with birdcage veil and ochre bolero photo by Rachel Thurston, brown and white invitation suite by Alee & Press, wine tumbler photo by Johnny Miller
Row 4: rustic farm building and chocolate ganache filled egg shells both from Martha Stewart Weddings, hand-drawn wedding invitation by Liam Stevens, bouquet with velvet ribbon from Martha Stewart Weddings

Real Wedding Saturday: Kristin & Mark

I have been so excited to share this wedding with you ever since Kristin first emailed me with some of the details - and I can't tell you how tough it was to pick from all of Red Photo Co.'s incredible photos. And not only are the details beautiful, and the venue, but these photos really capture how much fun this wedding was - I think once you see them, you'll wish you'd been there (I know I do!).


The custom invitations were designed by Leslie of Unless Someone Like You.


Kristin wore a Vera Wang dress and shoes by Kate Spade.




Kristin and Mark decided to take most of their portrait photos before the ceremony, so that their guests wouldn't be waiting between the ceremony and the reception.


They took some great photos on Kristin's vintage scooter.






The Chapel of Love booth at a local fringe theater festival made for some fun photos.


A vintage car found in an alley served as a great prop, as well as something borrowed and something blue - and how cute is Kristin in those roller skates!




Kristin wore a hairpiece by Twigs & Honey.




Kristin carried a bouquet of white lisianthus, freesia, sweet peas, and orchids, all tied with an organic hemp rope. The bridesmaids' bouquets were yellow and white freesia, all made by Floral Elements.


Before the ceremony, guests were asked to write well-wishes for the couple. The ushers collected these notes, and instead of flower girls and ring bearers, there were wish bearers: Kristin and Mark's five nieces and nephews carried the notes down the aisle.


Kristin's friend Hayley and Hayley's dad, Fred Penner, performed Blackbird as the wish bearers walked down the aisle, and Here Comes the Sun as Kristin walked down the aisle.


Each of the bridesmaids each chose a dress in gray, a great way for them to each feel comfortable and show their personalities.


Kristin's father officiated the ceremony, which took place at the Knox United Church in Winnipeg. To make sure their vows were especially meaningful, Kristin and Mark spent a weekend with her father working on them. It was also important to them that all of their guests - religious or not - could feel comfortable and at ease, so they included non-religious elements in the ceremony, including a reading from Winnie the Pooh called Us Two.










For seating cards, Kristin and Mark hand wrote the seating assignments and nailed them to an old, rustic shutter.


A clothesline hung between two old ladders displayed family photos.


Willow branches tied with yellow orchids decorated the tables.


Kristin's engagement ring and Mark's wedding band were both from David Rice. Kristin's wedding band was custom made by Hilary Druxman.




Kristin and Mark rented a photobooth for guests to enjoy, and also to include in the guest book. They also hired babysitters and set up a kids area - it was important that their wedding was kid-friendly, but also that parents could enjoy the party.


The wedding was catered by Dandelion Eatery, where Kristin used to work, and which uses local and organic ingredients. Dessert included a build-your-own-sundae bar and a variety of cakes and tortes.


The cakes, by Chocolate Zen, included an assortment of cheesecakes and tortes - Oreo, hazelnut espresso, lemon raspberry mousse, strawberry and cream, lemon meringue...


Bluegrass band Oh My Darlin' kicked off the music to get the 120 guests on the dance floor, and were followed by DJ Travis Campbell, 204-694-9803. A basket of flip-flops encouraged guests to switch into dancing shoes.





Congratulations Kristin and Mark - what a beautiful, thoughtful, and fun wedding! Thank you to Coralee at Red Photo Co. for sharing all of these gorgeous photos. If I could have included all of them, I certainly would have! Oh, and a happy happy birthday to Kristin - if your birthday is anything like this, we know you'll have a great one!