sweet peony

We’re obsessed with peonies, so when we saw these pretty images by Becky Young Photography from her sister’s bridal shower, and peonies were in the details, we were in love.

The soft colors, ribbon backdrop, sweet peony arrangements by the one and only Cori Cook and desserts made for one lovely bridal shower. And according to Cori, the bride, Jenny, is as sweet as pie. We want to meet her…and see her August wedding!


VENDOR LOVE
photography: Becky Young Photography
florist: Cori Cook 

{images via Becky Young Photography}

if this shoe were a party

We did a feature last year, If this shoe were a room. You all seemed to like, so in honor of NYFW Shoe Week in NYC, we’re introducing…

IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY.

Sometimes the perfect inspiration for an outfit or a party can be found in your closet…or by looking down. If your feeling stuck on a color scheme or ‘theme’ to a party, just look at shoes. I promise, you will be inspired. And, you can shoe shop while you’re at it…who doesn’t love that?

#1: Sacha Black Shee Footwear
Shee is a designer this year at NYFW Shoe Week


IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY…it would be a Palm Springs 30th Birthday Party featured at 100 Layer Cake. You have to see the full gallery here because it’s gorgeous!

#2: Sam Edelman Shay Bootie, Nordstrom {$159.95}

IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY…it would be a Vogue On Safari Party for Tim Walker . It’s fabulous. A safari party with a chandelier, sign me up.

#3: Licorice by Kate Spade New York, Piperlime

IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY…it would be a girly, neutral setting with white, tans and champagnes. These neutral shoes would be the perfect accessory for such a beautiful setting.

#4: SixtySeven Baxter Bootie, Nordstrom

IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY…it would be a camp-style, rustic-chic shindig. More photos from this outdoor camp wedding from The Sweetest Occasion here.

#5: Valentino Couture Bow Platform Pump, Nordstrom

IF THIS SHOE WERE A PARTY…it would be a pretty, lovely party full of pink peony’s, feminine touches and woman-to-woman conversations. This pink peony dessert table featured at The Party Wagon is just stunning.

{images via 100 Layer Cake, Vogue, Nordstrom, The Sweetest Occasion, Piperlime, The Party Wagon}

susan + michael

We love this wedding for it’s pretty simplicity, but also its DIY touches, lovely lace, vintage accessories and the most stunning floral bouquets and arrangements! Tables were set with burlap runners lined with lace borders. Such a pretty combo.  Centerpieces by one of our faves, Cori Cook, were a mix of old wooden planter boxes with beautiful arrangements of juliet garden roses, succulents, roses, veronica, cafe au lait dahlias, scabiosa pods, astible, sweet pea, lavender and seeded eucalyptus. The details and the setting made for a beautiful garden wedding.

Thanks for Harper Point for sharing the amazing photos with us. Ya’ll are good!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Harper Point Photography
Flowers: Cori Cook Floral Design
Paperware: Paper + Ink
Rentals/Vintage Props: A Vintage Affair Rentals
Venue: The Tapestry House

{images via Harper Point Photography}

coffee for 2

I wanted to spruce up a wedding gift for an upcoming shower with a cute prop to go along with the gift. I bought the bride a complete set of “Coffee” Mugs from Crate and Barrel, but instead of just giving her a wrapped package, I made a DIY Chalkboard tray for the couple so they could have coffee for two together…hopefully forever! Here’s how you can do it too…for a gift, or for yourself!

First I made coffee filter flowers.

You’ll Need
30-35 coffee filters
A stapler
Scotch tape or painters tape

How To
Stack 5-6 coffee filters on top of one another.
Fold the coffee filters in quarters, and then open again {you will just have ‘seams’ from the fold}.
Use your fingers to pinch the bottom of all the coffee filters so you have four seams, and then staple it on the bottom.


Then pull each filter up one at a time, and bunch it together.


Continue to do that, until you have gathered each coffee filter around the center, and you have a flower. From the gathering process, you will have a ‘stem’ on the bottom, so wrap a piece of tape around the ‘stem.’

Then, I made the tray.

You’ll Need:
A cookie sheet
Chalkboard Paint
Rope
A Drill
Chalk

First I primed the cookie sheet with a Primer, spray painted it with Chalkboard paint, glued handles on the sides and Voila, right? Nope, not the case for me.  An hour and a half before the party, the gold handles fell off {and I used Gorilla Glue}, along with some paint. So, when I saw rope on the garage floor, I got to work on Plan B {my dad came through like a super hero…despite his dislike for DIY projects}, and then I had to re-paint it. Honestly, it’s cuter than Plan A – it just stressed me out more than I intended…and made me late for the shower.

How To
Use an electric drill to drill 2 holes on each side of the cookie sheet. Thanks Dad!
If you have pieces of metal sticking out or the edges are rough, use a sand block or a hammer to smooth it out.
Cut pieces of rope for the handles.
Prime the cookie sheet with paint primer.
Spray paint the cookie sheet 2 times {allowing appropriate time in between each layer for it to dry}.

Wrap a piece of duct tape around one end of the rope so you can easily fit it into a hole. On the other end, tie a knot.
Insert the rope, duct tape end, from the bottom-up of one hole, insert it down in the other hole, tie a knot, and then remove the duct tape and cut the leftover rope.


Write “Coffee for 2” on the cookie sheet, or even a game of tic tac toe.

Fill each mug with coffee filter flowers {I used Scotch tape to keep the flowers in place in the mugs}.

Add the mugs, a package of coffee, an ‘I love you more than coffee’ tag {from Fleur de Lis} and you have yourself an adorable prop for your gift.

{images via Tutto Bella}

welcome bags…to do or not to do

Weddings are expensive. Plain and simple. Flowers. Photographers. Food and Drink. The Dress. Reception Site. The list goes on and on. So, many ask, “Is it necessary to give guests welcome bags at our wedding?” We are no Emily Post when it comes to etiquette, but having worked in the industry a little, and meeting with brides at Fleur de Lis on a daily basis, here’s our opinion. No, welcome bags are not necessary. It can be another expense, and often a logistical nightmare.

However, if the budget allows, it is a nice gesture, especially when you are having a destination wedding. Plus, we {especially me} are obsessed with the ‘little touches’ at weddings, so we believe a welcome bag is another opportunity for the bride and groom to share their personalities and relationship with their guests, it’s another chance to be creative and its a way of doing something special for your guests who traveled to attend your wedding.

If you’re getting hitched soon, and are contemplating gift bags, here’s some useful tips when putting it together.

IT’S ALL IN THE PACKAGING
Everything looks better and more beautiful when it’s in a pretty or cute package.

{images via destination tote bag: LH Calligraphy, roots wedding tote: Wedding Chicks, Wrapped frame art-print: Martha Stewart}

MAKE IT PERSONAL
Add a personal label to items {hotel door hanger like below}, share your favorite restaurants or things to do in the town of your nuptials, include a personal hand-written note and homemade treats {banana bread and honey butter or vanilla extract with a family tradition recipe like below}.

{images via…door hanger: Fleur de Lis, a paperie, banana bread: Everyday Occasions by Jenny Steffen, vanilla extract and recipe: Snippet and Ink}

INCORPORATE LOCAL FAVORITES
Highlight the towns best treat, and buy from local companies. It will give guests a taste of the town, and a deeper appreciation for it. And, be sure to include items guests will need/enjoy related to the town’s activities and weather.

{images via Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Miami tote: Jesi Haack Weddings, boston: Style Me Pretty}
INCLUDE ‘NECESSITIES’ FOR SURVIVING A FUN WEEKEND
Guests will likely enjoy a cocktail or two, so make sure they stay hydrated and you provide hangover essentials.
{images via…Hangover Kits bags: Jennifers CookiesMartha StewartNewlywish}

INCLUDE THE WEEKEND AGENDA

Make sure to include an itinerary of the weekend, tips on how to stay warm or cool, what to wear, who to call – the who, what, when, where and how of the weekend.

{images via Good Morning Newsletter: Martha Stewart Weddings, Oh So Beautiful Paper}