Purple and Gray: Modern and Sophisticated

I am in love with the purple and gray color pallette. These colors can be as soft or as bold as you like. The key is to not overdue the purple. Purple is a color that can be easily overdone so use it sparingly and in the right places. Here is how I would use it.



The following images are from (left to right) Bridesmaids Dress: After Six, Bouquet: The Place for Flowers, Shoes: Kelly Oshiro Events blog and captured by Natlie Moser, Wallpaper: Design Your Wall, Cute Etsy Clutch, Cake: Martha Stewart Weddings

Show off your style - Create an Inspiration Board!

Romantic Wedding in Bloom on Polyvore.com

In reading this blog, you're probably familiar with Inspiration Boards. I found a great tool I'd like to share which makes it easier to create your own inspiration or style board. Say hello to Polyvore Clipper tool. It's a simple "clipper" that allows you to clip images from websites and links to your Polyvore account. Now when you find the perfect wedding cake, centerpiece or bridesmaids dresses you can save and insert the picture into your Polyvore style board. And the kicker is that you can save money on magazines and craft supplies because it's entirely online AND you save money on printing - no need to print every picture you find on websites like The Knot.

Get started!

1. Go to www.polyvore.com
2. Register (don't worry, it's free!)
3. Once you've set up your account, you need to put the Clipper into your browser's tool bar. Simply, scroll to the bottom of the Polyvore website, and click on "Clipper". Follow the instructions on the page. If you can't find it, here is the link to page:
(http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/clipper)

Start Clipping!

1. Go to your favorite wedding website (note: some websites do not allow you to clip images).
2. When you see an image you like, select it and then click the "Clip to Polyvore" button on your toolbar.
3. Roll over the image again and you'll see a green box around it. Now you can save to your Polyvore items.
4. Repeat steps until you have all the images you want to save. Save as many as you like because even if you don't need it now you can always refer back to it later since it's saved to your Polyvore account.

Create your Style board!

The point of creating your style board is to see all the elements together - this will help you imagine how the colors work together. Plus you can send your board via email to your wedding planner. Now she has a better idea of your style and can make your wedding perfect for you!

1. Open www.polyvore.com and log into your account
2. Click "Create"
3. Click on "my items" tag (this is where all Your clipped images will be stored)
4. Select the item you want, left-click mouse and drag your image into the board.
5. Continue until you have all the images you want to dispay.
You can resize your images, rotate and move around until it looks how you want it.

Now you're ready to save and share. This is perfect to send to your friends, family and of course your wedding planner!

Inspiration: Black, White & Green

{from top left to bottom right}
1. Escort Cards via The Knot, 2. Vintage Wedding Car, 3. Wedding Cake via The Knot, 4. Green Cocktail Drink via The Knot, 5. BridalAccessories via The Knot, 6. Bridesmaid Dresses via The Knot, 7. Black/White & Green Wedding Couple, 8. Black & White Reception via Brides.com, 9. Boutanniere via Brides.com

Your Spring Wedding - Spring Color Inspiration Board

I love the colors for this spring. In November, I blogged about the fab colors we would be seeing on the runway as well as weddings for this spring. Here are my three favorite combinations:

(Freesia, Cantaloupe and Croissant)

Below is a beautiful-chic garden wedding inspired by the colors above. If you are interested in using three colors for your wedding the key to doing it successfully is by using a little of each color and save your boldest color for the accents. For example, the burlap table linen represents my Croissant color and it would give the table a nice neutral feel and interesting texture. The cantaloupe in my opinion is the softest and prettiest of the three so it would be my main color. You don't have to go crazy with all three colors, but give enough of each to create a beautiful balance. Because the Freesia is so bold, I would use it as an accent color to the tablescape and the bouquets.


Photos Courtesy by:
Cake: Brides.com
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Flowers, Drinks, Tablesetting: The Knot
Linen: Bright Setting
Garden Wedding: Larrimore Weddings

My Charlotte Christmas Party!

Well, I should've said my "pretend" Charlotte Christmas Party. Because let's face it I DON'T HAVE TIME!! I love entertaining and I would love to have a party, but I just can't find any room to squeeze it in. So, I thought, if I did have a party what would it look like? I came up with a nice clean red and silver party, modern but yet very traditional. I know everyone, well mostly everyone, would love to have a party professionally designed so your guests would be oh so impressed, but you can design something so simple and elegant that your guests will probably more impressed because you did it. Here is what my party would look like:

(Ornaments and Wreath from Z Gallerie, Favor Bags, Table setting and Fireplace Decor from Martha Stewart Living and Snowflake Napkin Ring from Social Couture)

If you're having Christmas Party design-block, pick up a Martha Stewart magazine or go to the mall and look at how some of the stores are decorated. This should help inspire you! Happy Holidays!!

Fall is in the air!

Well, I guess that depends on where you live. In North Carolina it still feels pretty much like summer, but I'm hoping it will get cooler really soon. Although I haven't been able to whip out my sweaters and boots yet, I still like to celebrate the new season with my favorite staple of the fall season...food! One of my favs for this time of year is Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte!! Yum, Yum! So if you're thinking about having a little party since it's cooled down a bit, here are some food and decor ideas that will get your guests into the autumn mood.


Photos: Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte, pine cone tapers: Candlebay.com, gourmet pretzel sticks: www.popularweddingfavors.com, pumpkin centerpiece: www.thenormandinfamily.com, Molasses Spice Cake and Caramel Apples, www.mslo.com, candy buffet: www.theknot.com

The Stylish Fall Bride

Click to enlarge

Believe it or not this Fall your wedding colors don't have to include orange! :) I have nothing against orange, but this Autumn we will be seeing a lot less of it. In it's place you'll be enjoying more vibrant tones like shades of purple, red and even yellow. If you are in disbelief go take a look in your fav boutique and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the colors for this season.

The inspiration board I did above, includes the beautiful purple wine tone, accented with the chocolate brown, a color that doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. I just wanted to post a little eye candy to inspire you autumn brides-to-be out there!!

(From L to R) Jewelery by Francesca-Visconti, Gowns by Amsale, Photo from Brides Magazine, Cake by Fancy Cakes by Lauren, Photo from Wedding Style Magazine, Bouquet from Squareroot Designs

What do you see?

Boy do I love a challenge! On my fav networking board, this photo was posted for inspiration and we were challenged to design an inspiration board out of it. Now, what do you see? Well I saw, a South Asian Wedding full of vibrant red, green and gold tones.

Realistically, you just need one item to inspire you and you can design an entire event from there. Now some of you may have seen a more Oriental decor, but that's why this is great. Two people can look at the same item and come up with something totally different. Whether, your inspiration is your dress or a piece of china, you can come up with an event that leaves your personal stamp on it!

Inspiration Board Contest ....and I won!!!!!

I can't believe it! I go and read my morning edition of the The Blog for the Discerning Bride by Blue Orchid Designs and what do you know I won the Inspiration Board contest!! Liene (the fab designer of Blue Orchid Designs) posted a work of art and as a contestant you were to create a party from the work of art. Well here was the inspiration piece entitled Yellow designed by Dallas Shaw:

And this is the party I designed entitled "Summer Shower". I think it's a perfect bridal shower for the girly-girl in your life!

Thanks Liene for the inspiration! This has truly made my morning!