Beachy with Class!

A big shout out goes to Brit who was married last Saturday in Las Caletas! We did a whole set of things for her, as you will see - all super fun!

INSPIRATION

Brit did send us her invites but told me she didn't really want something based off the invites (other than the colors) - after discussing it a bit as to what she would like to see, I remembered an invite that I loved which was very colorful but super kewl - Brittloved it too and, thus, started our inspiration for her wedding sets!

Maracas

The first thing Brit ordered were the maracas. She wanted the colors of yellow, orange and an orchid/fuschia color. We decided to put the white tiger lily on it for the biggest effect and this is how they turned out!

MARACA TAGS & NAMES/DATE/LOCATION

The bride really wanted to have the names/date/location on the maracas but it was a little over her budget - so, instead, we offered to do tags on some and she decided to do the print on others. The inspiration for these tags (and, as you will see, the place cards as well) came as I was struggling to find something that would be beachy but not too "beachy" - I wanted something artistic, yet also classical when I ran across this graphic image and realized it was perfect! On the other side of the tags I put a tiger lilly water color and I really like the effect. Also taking oodles of time was the font - I must have looked at over 100 different fonts before deciding this was IT! And you thought picking a dress was hard! :)

PLACE CARDS

When I asked Brit how she would like her place cards she was really laid back and basically told me to just do something kewl!! So, I thought place cards on the forks would look nice (and as I knew the wedding was outside at Las Caletas, I thought that would ensure that they wouldn't blow away). I really liked how they came out - as I was playing with font colors I accidentally did the two-tone and decided there was some kewl factor there!

HAND PAINTED FANS

We were just going to do sandalwood fans with ribbon and accents but, when we went to order the fans, it turns out that they are stuck in Mexican customs right now and nobody in Vallarta had any! So, we had to do some quick thunking and we suggested to Brit that we could do some fans based on the same theme as the maracas with a slight twist and she agreed! I'm actually glad it turned out this way because I think they turned out awesome - actually a product of my husband, rather than Omar!

Next week we have Megan's maracas to share ... we've been so busy and I promise I've been scouting the web for ideas - but they have mostly been for my bride's weddings and, of course, must keep those under wraps until we unveil! If you are eager for me to get back to cool decor ideas I will be back to that at the end of April when we have a little break before we go into May and are oodles busy!

Lovebirds and the Tropics....

We've been incognito but not lazy! A big congratulations goes to Gilda and Jade - both of whom were married this last Friday the 13th! I'm very fond of Friday the 13th as it was also the day I got married!

LOVEBIRDS

Gilda first asked me to do some fans with the swirl, similar to previous blog postings, but in her colors of white and silver (white, silver and a touch of red were her colors!). But, then, she told us that lovebirds had a real meaning to them and they would like to include it somehow, if they could. This was the information she sent us....

So, Omar and I put our heads together and decided to combine the swirl idea with the lovebirds and this is what resulted!

Tropical Flowers

Jade sent us her invites and wanted to know if we could do something similar in her colors of fuschia and orange.

I told her that, when you put a strong color on top of another strong color you need a lighter color to balance it out. So, she decided to do half orange and half pink with a white design and this is what Omar pulled out of his hat!

Next week we have Britt's design - it's completely unique, not like anything I've ever done before, so hopefully you'll tune back in and see how it turns out!

Oranges, Reds, Golds, Fuschias...Where was I??

I'm sorry I'm late dear brides and coordinators! Time just flew away from me this last week as I was delving into research for various events and favors. And, then, somehow I forgot whether I was looking up oranges, fuchsias, reds, golds... so, I just put them all together - I love bold colors - so fiery and passionate and perfect for a sunset reception in our bay!

INSPIRATION BOARD

Again, just a few of the photos I really loved from this color combination. The invite and those pillows are absolutely Divine!

BOUQUETS AND DRESSES

I've decided I'm going to do a whole series just on dresses ... I love them so and, while most brides have already purchased their dresses before I ever get their design, that doesn't mean that I don't absolutely love what I see when I finally do get to see what they've chosen! Anyway.... to start we have this absolutely luscious bouquet with lilies and roses and berries - love it (McClintock Photography)! Next to it this fiery sexy orange bridesmaid dress (Elegant Mart). Underneath another beautiful bouquet from The Knot and beautiful orange bouquet (that wrap is sweet!) from Project Wedding. In the upper right we have a wispy fuchsia/pink toned bridesmaid dress and orange ties (Blog Dig) and I see this red wedding dress all the time and absolutely love it for its dramatic, ornate look - at the right wedding - HERE comes THE Bride!! (Bridal Wave Tv)

PRINTED MATERIAL AND CAKES

Well, not sure how I ended-up with the beginning and the end of the wedding put together, but here you go! I have always loved this orange cake and have every intention of doing something similar for the right bride and next to it another super fun Gerber-like cake (the knot). Underneath I love both of these - on the right we have this amazing peacock affair program (the knot), and on the left orange tiger lilies (my personal artist). Underneath - great tags from Project Wedding, colorful invite from Alannah Rose, and I like this last invite for the use of texture (Created by Fate).

CENTERPIECES

Well, I guess this should be centerpieces and tablescapes, but anywho... On the top we have this wildly colorful and oh so fun tablescape from Celebration Cayman Blogspot. Upper right we have a bright beachy centerpiece (Project Wedding), I LOVE the centerpiece underneath from The Knot, underneath we have a more subdued approach with orchids from Wedding Tactics. Next to it a very elegant and chic tablescape from Wendy's Bridal Affairs. On the bottom row, we have these escort cards which are so clean and unique (and could also make a very good centerpiece)(BlogDig), vase covered with fabric and surrounded by gerbers (Prima Donna Bride), and colorful airy tablescape (BlogDig).

SPECIAL TOUCHES

Or, in other words, other things I loved but didn't know where to put!! Row 1 - Hand-made paper flowers (well, those are ours - but so cool!), fabulous pillows (Bees N Tulips). Row 2 - love this draping fabric with alternative lighting (The Knot) and draping fabric and hanging flowers (The Knot). Row 3 - adore these Chinese lanterns (Snippet and Ink) - by now you might think I'm a Chinese lantern fanatic, but I promise this is not the case - I just love romantic and alternative lighting - anything to make an event more festive and to really help and set a "mood"! Again, this drapey (is so a word if I say so!) affect - it looks similar to what I found on The Knot, but this photo was found at Snippet and Ink. And last I couldn't tell if this was printed paper or napkins, but I loved it either way (Snippet and Ink)!

I think I'm going to tackle Love Birds next blog as it caught my eye during the red/blue blog. Or maybe not ... maybe I'll just surprise you so you'll have to peek to see what's here!

Something Blue! (and Orange!)

Happy Independence Day! I'm sure none of you are in today, but here's a little eye candy for when you get back!

For some reason I've been really drawn to the color combination of blues and oranges these past few months - I haven't had a bride request this combination but I'm itching to get one who does!

INSPIRATION BOARD
I just wanted to show you my inspiration board - these photos will come-up later as we go through the wedding, but I just wanted to show you how beautiful these colors look together!

BOUQUETS
I'm not a big fan of fake flowers (unless it's hand-made paper flowers - but, there again, only for certain occasions and certain brides!!). So, if I were to do a orange/blue combination I would opt for an orange bouquet with a blue bridal wrap - I can see the wrap in my head but, alas, could not find one on the Internet.


This first bouquet with the orange/yellow combination and banana leaves came from the Seattle Times (believe it or not!). Next to it we have the beautiful peacock blue dress/orange bouquet combination from JoNa Photography. Down below we have the rich shades of orange bouquet from Project Wedding and next to it the orange roses and mango calla lily affair found at Rick and Colleen's Wedding (no, I don't know them but I like their bouquet!). In the bottom row, I chose the bouquet on the left because it was the only bouquet I found with a blue wrap and it was found at Borrowed Blue Photography. Next to it this beautiful bouquet with shades of orange roses and beautiful mango calla lilies found at Stitchy Witch. And, last, but not least is a bouquet I did a few year's ago.

INVITATIONS, MENU CARDS, ETC.
I love the graphic design side of things! So much fun! In the top row, left, we have this beautiful, simple design found at The Knot and next to it (one of my personal favorites!) is this ocean inspired motif found at Bella Figura. Middle row we have this flower monogrammed menu from The Knot and this vintage inspired invite (where I would switch the black for a dark orange) found at Wedding Zilla. I love these different ideas on the bottom row, starting with this bright orange, blue ribboned affair from The Wedding Bee, this 3-D collage at Madly Creative and blue with orange seashell menu from The Knot.

TABLES AND CAKES
I love these glass pillar candles found at Project Wedding - I know they aren't easy to find here, but I have found them before and it can be done! Next we have these cunning, whimsical place cards from The Knot and I just love this colorful orange fan with little favor ideas I found at Banquet Event.


Now to the table scapes ... in the second row we have this blue lacy affair with a very natural centerpiece from Project Wedding and this blue tulle (which I normally hate but really like in this set-up) with orange flowers arrangement to hang-off of a chair I found at Flickr. Honestly, I don't know if that's what they intended for this tulle affair, but that's how I would utilize it! I love the simplicity and clean lines of this orange, blue table scape - just breathtaking - found at Rachael Grace Photography. Underneath we have a very lush orange rose centerpiece with silky tablecloth from The Wedding Bee and last, the reason I started on this whole orange/blue lovefest in the first place, this amazing table scape I stumbled upon at Project Wedding.


Onto cakes!! Yum yum!! This top cake (blue with white flowered lace) was found at Style Me Pretty and underneath is the love bird cake found at Best Wedding Sites. My two personal favorites - this pretty blue affair with bright orange roses and this amazing orange detailed cake - were found at Pink Cake Box and The Knot.

Next but not least is the lights!! I love alternative lighting - anything to give the whole atmosphere a more romantic glow. So, with that in mind, the orange Chinese lanterns were found at Banquet Event and the blue with orange lanterns at The Knot.

Last photo, this beautiful orange punch on a startling blue tablecloth, was found at Project Wedding.

MISHKA DESIGNS' INSPIRED
What this whole love fest with blue/orange inspired was for me to design a motif and for Omar to make a fan favor - more to give you an idea of what we could do if you have a blue/orange bride who wants a unique and creative favor for her guests. So, we took the idea and painted our very own fan favor...So fun!! Keep in mind that we can do all sorts of patterns and designs for unique and detailed fans - just let us know what your bride (or you, if you are a bride!) is/are looking for and we can send you a quote!

The month of October will bring a guest blogger (one of our own coordinators!!) as well as some yellow, orange, chocolate brown themed ideas!

Mexico Chic Wedding!

Wedding Date: May 24, 2008
Location: Villa Crescencia
Wedding Coordinator: Vows Vallarta
Months of work: 4 months

Here it is, the event we've been working months on! The bride wanted her guests to have a true Mexican experience, but not in the "commercial" sense of the word. It was a fun, exciting project! Here is an example of my idea page which I used to inspire me as I created her design:

The Bouquet
The bride wanted calla lilies, but they weren't available. So, we decided on stargazers and roses. My favorite part of the bouquet was her accent ribbon and I was very excited when I found it when I was out shopping!

Bridal Bouquet

Bridesmaids and Bridal Bouquet

The Ceremony

So, we decided to create a papel picado huppah with the bride and grooms names and date of their wedding etched inside, atop a platform built especially for them, so their guests could see them better. We also had sandalwood fan favors with beads in the bride's colors of fuchsia and orange as well as seashell accents and chocolate brown ribbon. The bride and groom weren't real "seashell" people but, when I asked them for their invitation, their invitation had a seashell on it so I knew I needed to have a few accents of seashells spread through-out the wedding.

The Cocktail
After the ceremony, we took the ceremony chairs into the reception area and brought down cocktail tables which were covered with a rich chocolate brown and candles wrapped in orange, fuchsia, gold, chocolate brown and pink chiffon. The villa chairs were alternately covered in chocolate brown or various shades of chiffon. Adobe candles were also spread through-out the cocktail area.

Escort Cards and Drink Sign
The bride wasn't real crazy about fresh flowers, so we made paper flowers! The escort cards were propped-up in a large handmade paper flower rose. Drink Signs were modeled after the bride and groom's invitation, down to the cream and white striped background!

The Reception
Tables were covered with a beautiful sand/fuchsia tinted chiffon fabric and we used ordinary pinata bases for centerpieces but dressed them up with handmade paper rose and lily flowers and rocks. Table signs were various seashell photographs. Surrounding the paper flower centerpieces were adobe candles. I found out a few days before that two children were expected, so we bought and propped-up some toys at their place setting for them to enjoy! Napkins in sunburst orange were placed on the talavera dinnerware with the place cards. Paper flowers in orange, fuchsia and white were wrapped around the wine stems and indicated who was eating meat, fish or vegetarian!

The After Party
After dinner, guests were invited back into the previous cocktail area where we had lit the over 400 candles which were scattered through-out the villa as well as the hand-made beaded lanterns which framed the dance floor. The bride and groom had also supplied party masks which were displayed on the various cocktail tables. Hand-made floating lanterns were aglow in the pool - truly beautiful!

The Cake (cupcake tower!)
The bride and groom actually had a cupcake tower and, while we decorated the cupcake tower itself, the cupcakes were done by Charme! The cupcakes were adorned with the same seashell accent as their invitation and, as promised in a previous blog, the bride and groom cupcake were a dress and suit respectively. They were a big hit!

That's all for now ... mid-month I will tackle the black and white trend. Until then, have a great rest of the month!