Center Me To Pieces!!

I thought the subject of this mid-month blog would be easy but I was OH SO WRONG!! I saw soooo many BAD BAD BAD centerpieces (I felt bad for brides who are looking for new ideas!!) and many, many copycat pieces and very little truly original pieces. Of course, I realize that I'm somewhat picky when it comes to centerpieces - I'm not a big fan of tall centerpieces because they a) block the view from people sitting across and b) in an outdoor setting there is also danger of them blowing over. And you have to be careful with candle centerpieces because, while many of them look good in a photo shoot (as we all know!) they do not stay lit here in Vallarta unless they are protected!!

BUT, with all that said, I did find a few centerpieces I felt worthy of note ... so here we go!!


LIGHT AND AIRY
First runner-up is this flower box, daisy display that I found at Our One Heart. I think, for a casual, fun beach wedding this would be a good option and I love the use of yellow - something we don't see too often!!

Next we have a floating candle, orchid and rock display found at California Wedding Ideas. Now, I know we've seen floating candles before, but I've never seen the combination done with orchids and rocks and I think, for Vallarta and the right bride, this could be a really, great natural centerpiece.

Not to be beaten is this driftwood, orchid centerpiece which I found from a DIY bride at the Wedding Bee. I really like it - it's simple, yet very beachy and a little elegant!

I know I said I'm not fond of tall centerpieces, but I did like this tall submerged orchid piece found at June Bug Weddings. Of course, this isn't a piece we could use on the beach, but it would be a possibility inside the right villa.

Last, but certainly not least, I absolutely love this colorful, simple yet whimsical Gerber arrangement found at Elizabeth Anne Designs. Beautiful!!

A LITTLE DARKER
I have tree branches on my mind these days for an upcoming event, so it's no accident that I bumped into these tree creations. The first is from Project Wedding and I not only like the unique centerpiece but I also really love the combination of the runner and purple flowers NOT to mention the use of the white chiavari chairs with dark seat cushions. Really nice!

The next tree concoction came from the Wedding Bee and I absolutely adore the use of branches, flowers and candles. I know it's a tall piece, but it would work for a villa wedding!!

Again, another tall piece, but truly original is this fruit/flower display at The Knot. To be honest, I would like this piece a little more if they took the purple flowers away from the top of the fruit display and just left the white branches, but, in any case, I think it's a nice piece.

Of course, my favorite is last - I love this combination of coffee beans and flowers found at Kim Vallee's Blog. I could easily see this with the use of tulips or very open roses.

FLOWERS FLOWERS FLOWERY
Two interesting floral pieces were this floral cake base and tall glass vase - I would prefer not to have this piece so tall (again!) but I did think it was different and beautiful in it's own way. This piece was found at Precious Moments Florals Events.

Monograms have still not died out (and probably won't) so here's a neat idea to incorporate the monogram into a centerpiece, found at Brides.

ORIGINAL, OUT OF THE BOX
Again with the carved fruit, but I just love utilizing it somehow ... I think this pineapple cut-out isn't quite finished for a centerpiece, but it does give some great ideas, so I included it anyway! Found at Erin Cooks.

Another version of the use of couple photos for centerpieces, but I thought this one was really well-done and there are so many different things you could incorporate into this idea, aside from photos. Found at the Wedding Bee.

And, of course, the best for last .... I love the use of the Chinese umbrellas and natural grasses and calla lilies down below - true inspiration found at Project Wedding.

Next month we have a special treat for ya'all, as Omar has been busy painting various examples of made-to-order maracas to show you just a few of the possibilities for the bride who wants something uniquely hers so be sure to tune-in!!

It's a Wrap!

I was going to talk about bouquets and then I was pulled into the fascinating world of bouquet wraps! I've always had a fascination with bridal wraps - they are like the icing on the cake or the cherry on top of the ice-cream sundae! So, without further ado, let's dig in!!

JEWELED BRIDAL WRAPS

I'm still very much into investigation mode for all things vintage for an upcoming event - so, of course, in the search I came across some fun finds! Top left we have this fun laced, dazzling affair I found at Project Wedding as well as the bouquet with a similar technique to the right. Also at Project Wedding, right below we have the beautiful jeweled accent letter and these amazing crystal accents!! The bottom row is vintage at its finest, all found at The Wedding Bee, with the flowered crystal, old bracelets turned into a fancy glittering wrap and my personal favorite in this collage, the beautiful lockets with photos to remember loved ones present only in spirit.

RIBBON AND BEAD WRAPS

Great, creative ideas such as this alternating cotton candy pink and salmon pink ribboned affair topped off with pearl accents found at Project Wedding or this alternating fuschia/pink flare found at The Wedding Bee. Down below, I love this crystalized accented bouquet found at Project Wedding as well as this amazing ribboned flower wrap. Bottom row we have a ruffled ribbon affect at The Wedding Bee as well as the yellow country wrap (love that ribbon!!), and champagne and sage wrap with pearl accents at Project Wedding.

MORE ORGANIC WRAPS

If your bride wants something a little more "au natural" there are always these options of a banana leaf wrap or this succuluent wrap, both found at The Wedding Bee.

For a more "sailor" touch, you might go with this wrap found at Project Wedding.

Or, perhaps, my personal favorite of this set, this cream/white affair with charm accent found at Style Me Pretty.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT WRAP

Cream and white ribbon with black and white beads found at Project Wedding.

Button wrap (love buttons!) found at The Wedding Bee.

And I love both the wrap and this feathery flowered idea found, of course, at Style Me Pretty.

MY FAVORITE WRAP

Of course, I saved my favorite wrap for last. I also love the bouquet in this ribbon, jeweled assembly and the additional jeweled dragonfly accents found amongst the flowers is just fabulous!! This bouquet was found at The Wedding Bee.

Mid-month we'll be exploring some different ideas for centerpieces, so stay tuned!! And, as always, if you have something you would like more research on, let me know and I'd be more than happy to oblige!

Beach Weddings Every Which Way!!

I think we saw two days so far this month with some sun - but I'm sure you all were as okay with that as I was, because at least it kept the first part of this month a little cooler!

This mid-month I want to show you some ideas I found for beach weddings, especially since we are on the beach! I have a doubt that we will ever get by an entire year without someone wishing to focus on our lovely beaches! :)

BOUQUETS

I love these colorful bouquets - the first of which I found at Beach Weddings by the Knot and the second at the Hawaii Wedding Blogspot. Of course, we can't copy these bouquets exactly, as there are a few flowers not available to us here, but we can get the general look and feel. I love the simplicity and tranquil feel of this pink and green bouquet found at Project Wedding as well as this bout found at Beach Weddings by the Knot. Of course, I try to save the best for last, and I think this bouquet wrap is FABULOUS with the mixture of burlap and crystals, found at Style Me Pretty.

CEREMONY

Finding a well-done beach ceremony is a little tricky, but I did find 3 that I found worthy of note. This first design huppah design was found at Project Wedding and I love the use of fabric with the shells - very beach shabby chic! I also thought this heavy seashell laden ceremony set-up was original and could be perfect for the right couple, found at Brides Buzzing and designed by Colin Cowie. Last, but not least, is this seashell ceremony aisle from The Knot.

FAVORS AND ACCENTS

These pretty, yet simple floating candles I found at PhotoLulu. I'm not sure where I found this photo, as I've had it for a while, but I really love the idea of mosquito repellent and sunblock laid-out in a nice way, available for guests to use when they need. I believe I found the cute star fruit at The Knot. This pretty hanging candles were found at Beach Weddings by the Knot and are something we could easily do here, although perhaps not with those exact votives. I love wine glass charms, and this one was found at Hot Ref as were these pretty sailboat favor candles - they were also really cheap!! Last, but definitely not least, was this really nice favor bag found at My Wedding Favors, which could also double as a place card setting!

PLACE CARDS/ESCORT CARDS

Three new place card ideas ... the first is a way of displaying them, which we've seen before, but I like the simple, plain type on these cards which belays the rather casual way of displaying them - these were found at Trista Lerit. I love the calligraphy on these rocks and think they would work great as either place cards or escort cards, found at BPJ Designs. And lastly, I adore these wave escort cards found at Beach Weddings by the Knot.

CENTERPIECES

First, we have this candle with seashells which I think is understated but elegant found at My Dream Wedding, followed by a colorful display of orange roses with beach twigs at Beach Weddings by the Knot. Still colorful, but with a much more casual air, is this centerpiece and place set-up by Social Couture. Back to the elegant side of things we have these submerged orchids and tulips at Project Wedding as well as this really fab coconut shell filled with floating orchids. I love using coconut shells, or scooping out a pineapple and utilizing the pineapple or a watermelon, etc. - I think we have a variety of different textures available in Vallarta which would make a more organic beach side wedding truly unique and fabulous!

CAKES AND CUPCAKES

These simple, yet elegant beach wedding cakes at Budget Dream Weddings and at Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas. I love this cupcake display found at Wedding Ideas and Details.

Well, that's all for this mid-month update. Next month I will focus on bouquet and centerpiece ideas, so check back!!

In With the Old and a Slight Twist of New!

I hope you all are surviving the beginning of summer by keeping cool and drinking your gatorade! To start-off this month I wanted to talk about a trend that all the bridal magazines are talking about - as well as I'm hearing it from several brides - and that is VINTAGE!

If you have a Vintage client, the first thing to do is to determine WHAT time period they are talking about - Vintage can mean different things to different people. It could be Vintage 30's, Vintage WWII Generation ('40's), Vintage 20's ... perhaps they mean Vintage Swing ('50's). Once you have the time period nailed down, then research becomes a lot easier!

In this particular blog I'm going to tackle the Vintage 30's with a touch of glam which means opulence, feathers, crystals, sparkle (but in a glam way, not in a Vegas way!), lush flowers like roses, peonies, hydrangeas, etc.

THE INVITATION

Well, as we all know, most of our brides and grooms choose their invites, many times before they even meet us. But I couldn't resist introducing these great invite ideas, which could also be utilized as accents in escort cards, place cards and table markers. I absolutely love this accent which was found at Imagine Wedding in the UK. And these classic, yet beautiful lines done by Ceci New York and Scriptura are absolutely delightful! I especially love the texture and beauty of this pink invite, also done by Ceci New York.

THE CEREMONY

I think there are several different ways you can go with a ceremony, depending on your bride and groom. One way is to go crystals - crystal everything - crystal ceremony aisle, crystal accents on programs, falling off of ceremony chairs, etc. The problem with crystals (at least here in Vallarta) is they are very very $$$ (as you all know!). So, unless you have a client dripping with money, it will be out of the majority of our clients' price range.

The other option would be to go with feathers. Feather everything. I think this look could be beautiful, if done right (and not look like a chicken coup!!). But, while more cost effective than crystals, feathers here in Vallarta are still $$. I hate to spend a lot of money on a ceremony when the ceremony doesn't become something else (i.e. say the dance floor later on, or a lounge).

Third option, which is the one I'm going to show you, would be to flower it up!! Big luscious roses, peonies, and other really open, old-world flowers are the most inexpensive choice and look amazing. I love this ceremony huppah I found at Love and Splendor. I also love this combination of roses and crystals found at The Spiraled Stem.

THE BOUQUET

So many beautiful bouquets, it was hard to choose. But I fell in love especially with these feathery creations by Michelle Rago and found at Toast and Tables. The contrast of the dark feathers with the white flowers, I think is really dramatic! For something a little simpler, but still in the Vintage theme, I also think this white/cream bouquet found at Snippet and Ink fits the style with understated elegance.

CENTERPIECES

Oodles and oodles of ideas! But some of the most interesting ones I found was this urn filled with flowers at Touch of Class. While I know it's not something we could easily purchase here, it is something that we can make - not exactly but in a similar style!! Also of note, this chandelier style found at Wedding Announcer and these hanging crystal votives found at Half Value. But what really is over the top, Vintage glam has to be this amazing feather centerpiece found at Dove Wedding Photography. My absolute favorite, however, I found here at Love and Splendor and have every intention of capturing at least the idea of this centerpiece.

SPECIAL TOUCHES
So many special touches!! Place card stands from Snippet and Ink as well as beaded purse accent. These beautiful votive ideas by Eco Art Weddings are wrapped in a pretty fabric and accented with left-over costume jewelry and they utilized a similar technique with these pretty napkin rings! I love this crystal butterfly place card stand found at The Knot as well as these pretty ringing silver bells. And last, but not least, is this wine glass accent found at Brilliant Wedding Jewelry.

THE CAKE

I thought I might have a hard time finding a cake, but no, they were everywhere! The beautiful peach cake with crystal bow accents was found at Cake That. Next to it is the exquisite, white, silver-beaded veiled affair found at The House of Clarendon. Underneath we have the jeweled top affair found at Snippet and Ink and next to it is the elegant, yet simple concoction found at Wedding Vendor Guide. At the bottom, from left to right, we have Signes Bakery, a knot pick found at The Knot and my personal favorite, of course at Lovin Sullivan Cakes!

I trust there were enough pictures in this blog to keep you busy for a while! I'm not sure what I have up my sleeve exactly mid-month, but I do believe it will touch on place cards/escort cards and table markers!