06 Friday Apr 2012
Posted in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Inspiration, Kids, Parties, Weddings
I just made these invitations for a friends baby shower and totally love how they came out. Check out my DIY on how to make them over at Parentables today!
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Super Simple DIY Envelope Liner
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First Birthday Party Ideas
03 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays, Inspiration, Parties, Weddings
≈ 4 Comments
Tags
Centerpiece Ideas, daffodils, Easter Centerpieces, Flower Arranging Ideas, Maaike Bernstrom Photography, peonies, Spring Flower Arrangements, Tulips, Wedding Bouquet Ideas
Perhaps the most wonderful thing about spring is the sudden burst of color that encompasses the landscapes. It’s as though within an instant we go from blah to W-O-W as soon as that first daffodil or crocus blooms. And while the flowers are gorgeous outside, I can’t help but want to bring them indoors as well. Our friend Maaike is not only an amazing photographer, but she also has an incredible talent when it comes to flowers and here are some shots of arrangements she’s taken and/or created, and we hope some of these shots will provide some inspiration for your spring holiday and entertaining!
I just love the willow branches wrapped around the urn.
This display would be fabulous on a buffet. I love the mix of texture and pattern using just a few colors. And of course, the vintage mason jar is an awesome added bonus.
These mini daffodils in a wicker urn scream spring! Such a simple and elegant yet rustic arrangement for a small luncheon celebrating a new baby on the way.
At the same event, tin tomato cans are lined up down the center of the dining table also filled with daffodils, and bud vases with tulips and more daffodils make sure no space lacks a pop of color.
Colorful hydrangeas are flooding the store shelves right now. Add them to a pretty metal bucket with other foliage and you can’t go wrong!
This stunning wedding bouquet includes (my favorite!) peonies, roses, and greens. It would be equally as gorgeous as a centerpiece and can easily be scaled larger or smaller to suit your needs.
Oh, I could just fill my house with flowers like these, and there is so much more where this came from that we’ll do another post with more of Maaike’s flowers soon!
If you like this post, then you might like these:
Green Apple & Pink Flower Arrangements
Spring Blooms
Milk Bottle Vases are Perfect for Petite Parties
12 Monday Mar 2012
Posted in Accessories, Celebrations, D.I.Y., Inspiration, Parties, Tabletop, Weddings
≈ 1 Comment
Tags
apothecary jar, bridal registry, bridal shower gift, diy, green M&Ms, Monogrammed, Williams-Sonoma
What do you get when you take a beautiful apothecary jar like this one from Williams-Sonoma and mix it with yummy mint m&ms?
A great looking bridal shower gift! My friend Jennie came up with this idea recently for a friend’s bridal shower that happened to be green themed. I just love how she took a regular registry gift and put a creative and personal stamp on it. Surely the bride-to-be will remember this gift forever.
07 Tuesday Feb 2012
Posted in Celebrations, Kids, Kitchen, Parties, Shops We Love, Tabletop, Weddings
≈ 4 Comments
Tags
antique white ceramic, baby shower, brunch, cupcake stands, Farmhouse Wares, Tea Party, wedding
Even in the depths of winter, a sunny day like today makes me want to gather flowers and set a table for a party. On the heels of my milk bottle vase find last week, I found these sweet individual cupcake stands at Farmhouse Wares and cannot seem to forget about them. Sold in a set of six, these antique white ceramic stands would be a perfect for a brunch, baby shower, wedding or tea party!
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A Sweet Idea
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A Birthday P-ART-Y!
17 Thursday Nov 2011
Posted in Celebrations, Weddings
≈ 1 Comment
Tags
Newport Wedding Magazine, Sweet Berry Farm, wedding etiquette
You may remember the lobster bake wedding I did at Sweet Berry Farm last June. Well, here it is in Newport Wedding Magazine! I also wrote the story “Much Ado About Wedding Etiquette” for this annual issue of the magazine with some tips for brides to live by. My tips for guests and bridal party members should be up on the Newport Wedding web site one of these days, but they’re experiencing some technical difficulties so check back for them. The magazine is on newsstands now.
25 Tuesday Oct 2011
Posted in Celebrations, Inspiration, Weddings
≈ 5 Comments
Tags
Berkshire Mountain weddings, Berkshire wedding venues, fall wedding flowers, fall wedding ideas, Gedney Farms, wedding decor, wedding placecard ideas
Over Columbus Day weekend, one of my oldest friends was married at Gedney Farm in the Berkshire Mountains. Guests climbed a grassy hill to an aisle lined with flower filled mason jars to the ceremony setting under a centuries old tree. It was a spectacular 80 degree day and the sunlight glistened through the branches to set the scene.
The cocktail hour was held on the grounds outside the barn. Tables were topped with burlap, and a mix of vintage glass bottles filled with seasonal flowers added the perfect touch of rustic charm while still being elegant.
I just love how they displayed the place cards. Besides the fact that it goes perfectly with the style of the wedding, it was a great way to make use of the long hallway between the cocktail reception and main dining room, and it put those dozens of engagement photos that didn’t make the cut as the “final” one to good use.
For dinner everyone moved inside the three story barn. While the space is beautiful in and of its own right, they brought in giant live branches to affix to the posts to make it seem much more intimate and tie the different levels of the space together which made the space truly spectacular. The tables were beautifully set with a linen hemstitch tablerunner and centerpieces of purple, green, and white hydrangea mixed with cabbage and berries and wrapped in birch bark. Pears, twigs, and mercury glass votives were scattered around the centerpieces and on top of smaller pieces of birch. This wedding is sheer proof that you can have a rustic, country wedding that is also truly elegant.
Congratulations Ally & Tucker!
*Photos by Sarah Fernandez and Drew Fernandez*
05 Friday Aug 2011
Posted in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Weddings
Tags
lobsterbake wedding, newport weddings, party favors, wedding decor, wedding favors, wedding invitations, wedding logo, wedding monograms, wedding place cards
It may seem unnecessary, but creating a wedding logo for your big day really makes a statement. That’s what we did for the lobsterbake wedding I did in June. I have to admit that I lucked out because the bride’s brother is an amazingly talented graphic designer that did the hard work on it, but I also think that the fact that we carried the logo throughout the wedding really made a statement and actually made it a lot easier when it came to deciding how we were going display other things. The monogram surrounding the logo made it’s way into almost all of the details of the day from the invitations to the favor.
I have to say that the place cards were quite possibly one of my favorite details. We struggled with how to fit everything on the cards when the sail of the boat stuck up so high into the place card, and then it dawned on me to add a burgee to the top of the sail, and I love it! Those who were allergic to shellfish also got a pirate flag on their boat. We used the same lobster graphic as we used elsewhere to denote who was having lobster for dinner.
Because there were so many out of towners traveling in from across the country, we knew there would be some people who had never cracked a lobster. Printing out diagrammed instructions framed by a border with our logo for each table helped out the guests.
Simple signs with the logo lets people know where they should leave gifts and cards.
And of course the favor couldn’t have been any cuter with the logo on it. I LOVE these wine glass favors and they are super reasonable over at Favor Favor.
But you can’t just hand someone a glass. We packaged it up with a cute little thank you tag with our signature lobster. It’s the details that make the difference!
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Summer Wedding Inspiration Board
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01 Monday Aug 2011
Posted in Celebrations, Inspiration, Weddings
≈ 6 Comments
Tags
clambake, It's My Party, Maaike Bernstrom Photography, McGrath Clambakes, newport weddings, parties, Sarah Rodgers Florals, Sweet Berry Farm, wedding decor, wedding flowers, weddings
Last fall a very good friend approached me about planning her wedding for her. She is the type who cares about the details but never bought a wedding magazine. She and her fiance gave me these simple guidelines: it had to be a clambake with lawn games and there must be dark and stormies and Narragansett beer. The rest was up to me which couldn’t have been more fun. After taking photos at her family’s summer home on Easton’s Point, everyone headed over to Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, RI for a beautiful ceremony against the backdrop of the orchards followed by lots of merriment. It is nearly impossible for me to pick my favorite photos (all taken by the amazing Maaike Bernstrom Photography) from the day so here is a series from the day that was described by guests and the couple as “epic”. Throughout the week, I’ll post many more pictures and discuss the details in more depth. Enjoy!
Flowers by Sarah Rodgers Florals.
Food by McGrath Clambakes.
Cake by It’s My Party with fresh picked strawberries from Sweet Berry Farm.
*all photos by Maaike Bernstrom Photography*
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Spring Flower Arrangements for All Occasions
A Beautiful Fall Wedding in the Berkshires
Newport Wedding
18 Monday Apr 2011
Posted in D.I.Y., Inspiration, Weddings
≈ 6 Comments
I happened to come across the May issue of Woman’s Day magazine at the hairdresser on Friday and was just so drawn to the cover. It’s not a magazine I usually read, but the combination of the granny smith apples and pink ranunculus was just so charming and pretty. I also have an affinity for pink and green. And it would be super easy to do yourself. With Easter just days away, I’m thinking of giving it a shot.
I also love this version of it with peonies (my all time favorite flower!). Look at how grand of a statement you can make with a dozen flowers and two dozen apples. These would be a very affordable DIY wedding flower arrangement.
And for a simpler version, just add some tea roses. There are few things that make me happier than a beautiful, fresh flower arrangement.
Image Sources: Woman’s Day, Occasional Word, Red Pearl Designs
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Spring Blooms
Dahlia Bouquet
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16 Wednesday Feb 2011
Posted in Accessories, Celebrations, Shops We Love, Weddings
≈ 1 Comment
Tags
Anthropologie, BHLDN, bridemaids dresses, Moonlit Peep Toe Heels, Pleated Fantasy Gown, wedding gowns, weddings
Yesterday, Anthropologie launched their new wedding web site, BHLDN (Beholden). While I have to say that I understand the name, I know there must have been a better choice in the bunch than to go with that abbreviation. Luckily, what really matters-the goods- are quite fabulous. The site offers wedding gowns, bridemaids dresses, shoes, lingerie, jewelry and more all with that special Anthropologie touch. And what makes it doubly as fun, is that most of it would easily translate to events other than weddings so those of us who have already walked down the aisle or never plan to can still enjoy this new venture!
I didn’t want to bombard you with ALL of my favorite pieces from the collection, but here are a few. The Pleated Fantasy Gown (top) is a-maz-ing! Fun, flattering and unique. And is there anyone ready this that is dying for a pair of the Moonlit Peep Toe Heels (above)? Every woman should have a pair of these even if only just to know that you have something so fabulous in your closet.
I’m not typically a fan of the bubble dress, but I find the Twirled Sweetheart Dress to be fun and sweet.
The Deco Beaded Clutch is another must have in your closet. You don’t need a lot of different bags in your life, but one like this is to give you many happy years together.
And for those who don’t want to go the veil route, this Botanical Garland Headband adds a little sparkle while still being delicate and not too fussy. To check all their offerings, go to BHLDN.