Fall-ing in love….

Photo courtesy of Suzie Beezie.

There’s something that’s just so magical about autumn! Maybe it has to do with the way the light starts to change, and a soft golden glow settles over each afternoon. Or maybe it’s the way the leaves all change to brilliant orange, red, and yellow (okay, maybe not so much in southern California as other places, but we do still feel it here somewhat!) Whatever the reason, it definitely adds that extra special something to fall weddings! Autumn is a transition from summer to winter, just as marriage is a transition to a whole new life together.

Photo courtesy of Grey Likes Weddings.

I’ve been perusing some of my favorite wedding blogs, soaking up all of the season’s inspiration, and there’s just so much fall goodness to be had! I couldn’t make up my mind so I nabbed some of my favorite pictures from a couple of different weddings to share with you.

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Ryan Photography.

This first one is from Green Wedding Shoes, from Heather and Scott’s wedding. I had to feature the gorgeous bouquets that they had decorating all of their tables! They were so soft and warm and elegant, all white with splashes of orange and pink. And you know me… I’m a sucker for anything with succulents!!!

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Ryan Photography.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Ryan Photography.

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Ryan Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Then I just had a heyday when I saw Style Me Pretty’s blog about Ashley and Christian! This wedding was just gorgeous!! As if this picturesque country setting wasn’t enough – I gasped when I saw all of the lanterns hanging from the trees!!! It’s a total fairy tale. Swoon. Is it possible to want to get married… to a wedding? Okay maybe I’m being (a little) dramatic, but this is why I love this whole industry. I just can’t get enough!

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

Photo courtesy of Yvette Roman Photography.

A Unique Wedding Reception Seating Arrangement!!

Photo courtesy Troy Grover Photographers

Are you thinking you’d like to do something different for your wedding reception to make it special and unique? I just heard the most wonderful idea for a seating arrangement and I had to share!!

Typically when you set up a seating arrangement for your reception, you put a lot of time and effort into putting guests where they will be most comfortable. You try to find the perfect balance between seating people that they know together as well as giving them the opportunity to make new connections. Then there’s the head table, where the bride and groom sit side by side, surrounded by their parents, maid of honor, best man, and sometimes other family.

Although there’s nothing wrong with this, it doesn’t give much opportunity for the guests to chat with the newlyweds – the two people that they are there for! Well here’s a creative idea that will definitely leave an impression on your guests and make the whole reception even more fun for everyone!!

When you set up all of your tables, leave two empty seats at every single one. Then you, the bride and groom, have a timer and set an equal amount of time, say 6-8 minutes per table (you will have to change this to suit the number of tables you have, of course) and each time the timer beeps, you grab your plate and move to the next table!

If you have a really large reception, this might not work as well – you simply won’t have time to visit with everyone. But for small and medium sized receptions, this is SUCH a fun idea! Your guests will love the opportunity to get to spend a few minutes connecting with you! It makes the whole event that much more personal and gives you the chance to really involve everyone!!

Truly Succulent!

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

I am SO excited to share with you the most gorgeous wedding that was just featured on Inspired By This. I am just sitting here swooning over how much I love everything about it!!

I am completely obsessed with succulents and grey and yellow so this one totally hit the mark! I absolutely LOVE the centerpieces!!! Cinder blocks with succulents and wooden table numbers made with screws and yarn!? I mean… really???!!! I’m in heaven!

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

The big event took place at Smog Shoppe, a solar powered private indoor/outdoor haven for desert plants, vertical gardens, chic vintage furnishings and dozens of other stylish, recycled and sustainable features! This is possibly one of the greenest event spaces in California. Part of the reason they chose it was that Evan (the groom) is an Architect and many of the guests were in the field, too. I think they couldn’t have picked a more perfect spot!!

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

I also think it’s so yummy that all of their hors d’oeuvres were inspired by their love for breakfast! Not only is breakfast just plain delicious, but it’s the little details like this that truly make the day so special because they reflect the personality of the bride and groom.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

I love the whole vibe of this wedding-- how beautifully the grey and yellow pair together and that the succulents add another grey element. Oh, and LOVE the enormous succulent wall behind the bride and groom as they’re saying their vows. And the little glass cube with succulents in it-- I am SO doing this in my Crate and Barrel three part dish I received as a wedding gift 12 years ago!!! I just can’t get enough!!

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rogers Photography.

It’s almost that time of year again…

Wow! Another year has zipped by in the blink of an eye already!? I can barely believe that October is almost here. And it’s just about time for the holiday cheer all over again. So many fun days of celebration… Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Years… and don’t forget all the birthday and wedding celebrations in between!

One of my favorite things about the holidays is… dun, dun dun… (take a wild guess) cards, of course! And I’ve already started getting in the spirit. Though I have to say, it’s difficult not getting in the spirit when our cardstock vendor, Envelopments, just released their holiday collection! All of these gorgeous designs have gotten under my skin and I’ve caught the creativity bug!!

There are so many fun possibilities… holiday cards, family photo cards, party invites, baby showers, bachelorette parties, and of course… holiday season wedding announcements! Okay, okay. Pretty much anything you can imagine, we can sprinkle some of our paper magic together and make it a reality for you.

So if you’re looking for something extra special to send out this holiday season, be sure to give us a ring. We can create any of these designs or just use them as inspiration for a totally custom set of cards made just for you. And we can even put together personalized holiday postage stamps -- via our Zazzle store! Envelopments also offers custom stamps through Zazzle as well.

What could be better than having your own set of completely customized holiday cards to send out this year? Be sure to get your order in early!

The Latest and Greatest Invite Trends

I’m so excited to share some of our latest designs! There are some really fun styles that have been popular this year and we’ve been enjoying customizing and tailoring them to our brides.

The trend this year for invite styles is fusions of pink with either metallic gold or paired with black and white for a retro feel. Geometrical prints are also huge this year, with the print being used as a border or a belly band! Prints are even gracing the back sides of invites that have long been left bare or are typically mounted to another piece of cardstock. Borders this year are less structured, with them running down a single side of the invite or just the top or bottom. Some are even being faded to be used as a background.

Custom monograms are really popular right now! The fun thing about them is that they incorporate specific elements and motifs to reflect the couple’s individual style. We imagine if the couple had their own special logo, this would be it!!

In addition to themes, couples are also using pop culture to add originality to their affair. We’ve created table names using the bride and groom’s favorite movies and characters, such as The Bourne Identity; Jason Bourne, and The Notebook; Noah Calhoun. We even put together a sweetheart table sign for a couple using the “Me and Mrs. Jones”  song title as a fun way to introduce them as Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Lastly, custom stamps are a BIG hit right now!! From using a custom monogram to something as simple and classic as a design element from the invite itself, brides are all about these sweet little details. We can design coordinating stamps for any invitation suite on Zazzle. You can see some of our stamps in our Zazzle Store!

I hope these give you some fun ideas about what we can design for your wedding!

What food to serve? Decisions, decisions…

We’ve had wedding food on the brain lately, and how there are just SO many options. How can a girl decide!? It's not always an easy thing! So we thought we'd give some of our thoughts on the subject of so much deliciousness!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten at a wedding reception? We’ve seen it all – the typical, the highly unusual, and everything in between – and each of them works for the wedding they're at! Hiring a good caterer will make everything so much easier, but it's always good to have an idea of what you'd like them to prepare for you.

You have your personal preferences, of course, but you also don’t want to alienate all of your guests by choosing something that only a small percentage will like. Still, you want to make it your own... it is your wedding, after all! 

Photo courtesy of VP Photography.

We think the best thing to do is take into consideration what your guests will enjoy, but also don’t try too hard to please everyone; it simply can’t be done!! It’s a good idea to start with a dish or two in particular that you know you’d like to serve, and then expand from there.

It might be a particular type of food that the two of you love; Italian, Mexican, Indian, Thai, French, Greek, American, or Seafood. Or a favorite dish that you shared on your first date or anniversary; bruschetta, or tikka masala, or sushi. It could be a family favorite that your grandmother passed down to you; her famous lamb and potatoes, or roast chicken.

Photo Courtesy of Marilyn Nakazato Photography.

Once you’ve found a starting point, ask yourself: what would go well with it? What will fit the same theme, but also add more variety so my guests have more to choose from? You want to take into consideration whether you’re going to have a more formal sit-down style dinner, or buffet of tasty finger foods. It all comes down to the size of your wedding, your budget, and the guests that are attending.

Don’t forget to think about those in your family who have dietary restrictions or cultural traditions that they follow. If you’re really unsure, it’s always best to have a simple veggie and fruit tray for those that really have a difficult time finding things that fit their diet. 

There is a lot to consider when choosing food for your wedding… but it can be really fun when you finally find the perfect combination!

Yum... looking at all of these pictures of food has made me hungry!!

Lemon & Lime Sublime!

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Chris and Annette recently celebrated their big day at Franciscan Gardens in Orange County. This beautiful venue was the perfect backdrop for the lemons and limes vibe that they decided on-- along with a cheeky play on the song “Me and Mrs. Jones” (as you see in the pictures of their sweetheart table sign!)

We designed and created table numbers, tented menus, dessert signs, signage throughout the reception, as well as a custom seating legend.

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

This couple was super fun to work with and were two of the sweetest people we’ve ever met, with SO much love between them. It was practically oozing out of their pores! They were so appreciative and endlessly easy to be around!

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Photo courtesy of: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

The celebration was just plain happy and lighthearted. The joy of this gorgeous couple was reflected back to them by everyone around. We were so happy to contribute to their day with our designs!

Venue:  Franciscan Gardens

Event Planning: High Society Wedding & Event Planning

Photography: 2 Rings and a Dress Photographers

Paper Designs: Us!

Floral Designs by: The Tangled Vine

Catering: 24 Carrots