here comes the bride

I love ring bearers and flower girls in grown-up suits and dresses made for their pint-sized bodies…and I love them even more when they have accessories for their outfits, and handmade signs.

My son has been a ring bearer in three weddings, and I’d say we’re 2 for 3. For Jenna’s wedding, he refused to walk down the aisle with anyone but me, and with a binky in his mouth. Not his finest moment. But, for Jodi’s wedding, he was absolutely perfect pulling his sister, the flower girl, in an antique wood wagon down the aisle with a sweet smile on his face. And for our friends 2012 winter wedding, he looked like a big boy walking down the aisle with a priceless, shy {yet proud} smile on his face, and did exactly what he was told to do…all with his pants falling down {they were HUGE, and the non-planning mom that I am didn’t put the pants on until the day of the wedding, and being that we were late, we had to improvise and attempt to use paper clips to hold them up}.

I LOVED the antique wagon my son pulled my daughter in at Jodi’s wedding. My mom found the wagon at an antique fair, we nailed a piece of wood to the back, and with paint and a brush, free-handed: here comes the bride. So adorable…and a great décor piece in your home once the I do’s have been said.

Need more inspiration and just overall cuteness? Here you go…

{images via Jenna Walker Photography, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Joyful Joyful Designs via Etsy and Preston Bailey}

anna be: five, part 2

And, finally … Anna Be: Five photos part 2
We hope you love them as much as we do!

{images via Jenna Walker Photographers}

anna be: five, part 1

Playing dress up is fun, especially when it’s a birthday party in the wedding industry!

One of Denver’s most fabulous bridal boutique’s, Anna Be, celebrated it’s 5th birthday 1920’s style. Hands down, Anna Be: Five was one of the most fabulous wedding events we’ve been to. Guests filled Denver’s Mile High Station wearing flapper gowns, boas, feathers and red lipstick {well, the ladies did!}. Amazing wedding vendors created their own party inside tents along the brick walls of the party area.

I’m telling you, it was every girl’s wedding dreamland. At every corner, there was extravagant flower arrangements, table settings and unbelievable lighting. Hors d’oeurves and champagne were passed while funky music played all night long.

I’m so excited to share these event photos from Jenna Walker Photographers.
Cheers to inspiration, creativity and, of course, wedding season!

ps stay tuned for part 2 glam pics

{images via Jenna Walker Photographers}


slug bug style

Our friend and talented photographer, Meredith Moran, worked her first styled shoot in May at The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park. Her dad’s refurbished slug bug served as the inspiration behind the shoot. Of course, we love the red slug bug…and all the details to go along with. The pop of red. Vintage white dresser. Old school desk sprinkled with buttons. Antique china. Mason jar floral arrangements on antique books. And who doesn’t love a Radio flyer? For all you brides out there…you can rent those items and more for your wedding from Jessica at A Vintage Affair Rentals. If I could re-do anything from my wedding, I would rent Jessica’s entire warehouse.

Kudos to Meredith and Tiny Bubbles Event Design. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next.

For more lovely photos from the shoot, visit here.











VENDOR LOVE

Photography/Design:  Meredith Moran Photography
Planning/Coordination:  Tiny Bubbles Event Design
Vintage Furniture & Accessories:  A Vintage Affair Rentals
Paperware/Invitations: Fleur de Lis {a paperie}
Flowers:  The Ruffly Rose
Cake & Cupcakes: Goblin City Bakery
Dress: Kathy Ireland Weddings by 2 Be (get it at The Bridal Collection)\
Hair & Make up: Cory Bryant, Make Up By Cory
Flatware/Glassware/Chairs: All Well Rents
Lace Tablecloth: Linen Hero
Venue: The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park
Models:  Jim & Kelli Goodwin

{images via Meredith Moran Photography}

antonia + reggie

When Jessica Strong, owner of  A Vintage Affair Rentals, and Emily of Emily Elizabeth Photo sent these ‘backyard wedding celebration’ photos to us, we were smitten. We love the simplicity of the celebration and its uniqueness filled with DIY details by the bride and groom. They really made it ‘their day’ in every way. Oh, and the fabulous food truck…we absolutely love!
Here’s all the wonderful details from the blissful bride:
September 23, 2011 was the day of my wedding celebration.  I was married to my Love, Reggie Lafaye on May 5, 2011 at the Starhouse near Boulder, Colorado with under 10 guests in attendance. This was exactly what we wished for – a small, sacred ceremony and then a super fun, happy party with all of our friends and family with us to celebrate our love.
My vision was one of celebration basked in the aesthetic of myself and my husband which is very earth connected, but still elegant and creative. Originally I wanted a bohemian carnival feel, like gypsies running through the night celebrating being alive! Had we a farm with tons of land, I think with my amazing wedding coordinator, Paige Domiano of Peekay Soiree, we could have achieved that. But since we chose to have our celebration at our home in the city, we had to tone it down a bit.
We still kept an undertone of carnival to the party. Paige made beautiful, mini hot air balloons that sat atop of the pillars as you entered our home. Our guest book, which people left finger prints instead of signatures, was a hot air balloon illustration done by Bluedetoi, a custom artist on Etsy. Several other ‘carnival’ touches were achieved through custom pieces. We have a local godsend in Denver, a company called A Vintage Affair Rentals, I choose to rent an old gumball machine that we filled with chocolate-covered peanuts. Also our bar was an old lemonade stand, which reminded me of an early 20th century carnival or fair. I also made a numbered checkered board for people to put their drinks on while dancing. That was a HUGE project! It took twice as long as I thought to stencil in all the numbers and paint them opposite colors.
We had home-made caramel corn served in old school pop corn bags, and of
course the FOOD TRUCK! Nothing says carnival more to me than a food truck. And Steuben’s Food Truck did an outstanding job serving over 100 people amazing food.

That aesthetic was balanced by the more refined elegant Bohemian touches, which is my essence. I love the creativity of what a bohemian lifestyle is with a touch of old Hollywood glamour thrown in for good measure. My dress was made by Two birds. Since I wore a white dress to our ceremony I wanted something in color for the celebration. And I wanted that color to be a dark teal. The fabric was so soft and did not wrinkle! Also, it photographed beautifully and I was comfortable all night long. My husband wore a vintage suit of my grandfathers as an homage to him. He recently passed and was a very big influence in my life. 
My best friend Mia and I made my bouquet out of peacock feathers. I wanted something that I could have forever, and have a rich and luscious feel (old Hollywood). It turned out so beautiful, especially since we made it the day of the celebration while we were getting our hair done! Thank God we are both good under pressure. We also made my husband’s boutonniere out of feathers as well.

The flowers were made by another one of my best girlfriends who is a genius when it comes to arranging. We used wild flowers with twigs and feathers. I wanted it to look like someone took a walk in the forest and collected these, and that is exactly how they came across. I found all different shapes of vases and spray painted them. Mostly in black, brown but a few white to give it contrast. They sat upon wood slices, some of which has tiny birdhouses next to them.

The lighting was mostly twinkle and gas lights with a lot of lanterns. I love the feel of lanterns especially when they have that gypsy quality to them. We hung the vintage lanterns from our oak tree and them randomly places the others around the yard. My husband and his father hung a ton of the twinkle lights above the dance floor. It looked amazing! That is where everyone gathered after we ate dinner, underneath the “stars” of the dance floor.
We did a lot of things ourselves but two of my favorite pieces I made were the photo booth backdrop and the party favors. The backdrop was totally tongue in cheek. It was a two wolves howling at the night sky that had a full moon and some extraterrestrial activity happening. Everyone, even my grandmother, was howling’ at the moon! And for the party favors, I wanted something that would be a keepsake, and that would not be thrown away. So I made stainless steel and leather key chains. They were all slightly different but very beautiful. I made a handful of them with fur and leather fringe for some of my girlfriends who like that look. They were made from recycled leather and fur I bought from Ebay and the stainless steel rings I bought at home depot.

Right after dinner and all of the toasts, we went to the front of the house for a group photo. Paige handed out sparklers to everyone and this is where the night turned up a notch. We took photos with all of the sparklers, and then headed to the back for a full-on dance party! I was on the dance floor all night long. It was once of the most incredible nights of my life. I was literally high off of all the happiness and love that everyone felt. It is a night I will never forget. I love and thank everyone who made this such a success.
VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Emily Elizabeth Photo
Catering: Steuben’s Food Truck
Desserts: Watercourse Bakery {mini ho ho’s, Happy Cakes – mini pies, homemade S’mores sticks}
Libations: Mondo Vino
Event coordinators: Peekay Soiree, Paige Domiano
Vintage Decor Rentals: A Vintage Affair rentals
Dress: Two Birds
Makeup by Angela Alonzo:  angela.marie.alonzo@gmail.com
Hair: Love, a Hair Studio by artist  Orleana Lynch
DJ: Eric Halborg of  The Swayback