Fab 5: Spring invitation finds

I don't know about this rest of you, but I am ready for spring! Let's skip ahead a month or two and pretend the sunshine and flowers have arrived. Take a look at these five beautiful invitations, perfect for a spring wedding:

1. Delicate Cherry Blossoms
   
   This wedding invitation features a sweet cherry blossom design in light pink and brown.
   Cherry Blossom Invitation Suite from Epherma
   
   
2. Love is in the Air
   
   A modern design in shades of turquoise, orange and yellow showcases a happy springtime treat: the return of birds who have flown south for the winter. Add your photo to this invitation for extra personalization.
   Love Birds from blue skies and daisies
   
   
3. More Spring Blooms
   
   This sage and chocolate wedding invitation offers a clean, modern look with abstract flowers decorating the corner.
   Dandelion Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas
   
   
4. Return of Sunshine
   
   The mix of yellow and red flowers at the top of this letterpress invitation envokes more than blooming flowers: it feels like sunshine.
   Floweret by Maura Gauthier from Bella Figura
   
   
5. Blue Skies
   
   This sky blue wedding invitation features a contemporary circles design in blue and bold red.
   Saucy from Tag & Co.
   

Designer gowns for a First Daughter

In case you haven't heard, Jenna Bush is getting married this spring. According to Style Scoop, First Lady Laura Bush asked 12 designers to take a stab at creating a gown for her daughter. The results:
Dresses designed by:

1. Vera Wang
2. J. Mendel
3. Arnold Scaasi
4. Carlos Miele
5. Amsale
6. Carmen Marc Valvo
7. Angel Sanchez
8. Badgley Mischka
9. Nicole Miller
10. Lela Rose
11. Marc Bouwer
12. Oscar de la Renta

My personal favorites are Carlos Miele (4), Amsale (5) and Arnold Scaasi (3). It'll be interesting to see what she ends up wearing based on these designs.

So tell me: 1) Which is your favorite, 2) What do you think Jenna will pick and 3) If you had a chance to ask any one of these designers to design a gown for you, what would you ask them to create?

Image from Style Scoop

Pittsburgh flair: Black & gold DIY invites

Yet another idea for throwing a stylish black & gold wedding. Miss Chickadee at Weddingbee shared photos and instructions for her DIY save-the-date cards, in black, white and yellow:
She created save-the-dates, but you could easily translate this concept into wedding invitations, menus, programs and more. Simple and stylish.

For more black & gold ideas, check out my previous posts on a black & gold wedding: style, candy and Terrible Towels.

Image from Weddingbee

Fab 5: Stylish boutonnieres

Think beyond roses, baby's breath and bows and let your groom don a boutonniere that's stylish and, well, a little more manly. Calla lilies are always a popular choice for a sleek modern look, but reach a bit further outside the box and check out these fabulous five options:

1. Modern Elegance
   
   Creamy white flowers accented with a bit of purple create a stunning accent against a black tux. Match the accent color to the tie for pulled together look.
   Image from Get Married
   
   
2. Starring Role
   
   Two stephanotis flowers paired with a sprig of berries create a modern boutonniere for the costar of your wedding day.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
3. Unexpected Twist
   
   Leave the floral behind with this all green bout made of succulents and green amazon coleus for a decidedly non-feminine look.
   Image from Brides.com
   
   
4. Something Blue
   
   Whether your wedding colors are blue or your groom wants to get in on the "Something Old" tradition, lean toward the unexpected with these charming blue blooms.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
5. Keep It Simple
   
   Let his boutonniere accent, not distract. This lily of the valley bout is simple and understated.
   Image from Wedding Channel
   

Fab 5: Groom's cakes for every personality

A Southern tradition, groom's cakes have recently become very popular in Western Pennsylvania and across the county. Brides present the cake as a gift to their groom, and usually choose a design that fits their new husbands' personalities. The cake itself is typically richer than the wedding cake--choosing a chocolate groom's cake, for instance, can provide a flavor option for your guests if you're serving a white wedding cake. Though typically served at the reception, you could also use the groom's cake as dessert at the rehearsal dinner, or even a Sunday brunch.

While groom's cakes certainly aren't a necessary component, I love the fun designs and options available. It's also a great way to reward your guy with a little bit of his personality, after a year of putting up with wedding planning. And so here are five creative groom's cakes, each fit for a different kind of guy.

1. The Poker Player
   
   He's got the guys over every weekend for some Texas Hold 'Em, so why not present him with a cake fashioned after his favorite game? This miniature poker table cake is complete with the playing cards and poker chips.
   Image from Hot Breads & Cakes
   
   
2. The Gamer
   
   If your groom's always glued to latest video games, serve up a cake shaped after his favorite game system. This XBox 360 cake (pictured for use at an XBox anniversary party) looks real enough to play.
   Image from IGN
   
   
3. The Car Nut
   
   Your groom's the kind of guy who spends his weekends under the hood, and never misses a Nascar race. Give him a cake designed to look like his favorite classic or race car.
   Image from Cakes by Sam
   
   
4. The Partier
   
   His favorite pastime is, well, drinking. He links to hang out with the guys at the bar, tailgate before football games and relax with a cold one in front of the TV. Get him a cake that looks like a can or bottle of his favorite brew.
   Image from Cakes by Graham
   
   
5. The Sports Fan
   
   He lives and dies with his favorite sports team, so get him a cake that shows his passion: a football helmet, hockey puck, baseball and glove or college mascot will do the trick. This Terrible Towel cake was originally designed for a birthday, but would be a great Steelers groom's cake as well.
   Image from Cake It or Leave It
   

You might be interested in:
The Ultimate Wedding Planner & Guide:
Everything the happy couple needs to plan their wedding with ease!
Compiled and written by a bride, this e-book includes ideas, wedding guest list, budget & checklist, contact list, reception ideas, gift list and more!

Fab 5: Bright, bold centerpieces

Happy December everyone! We got our first real snowfall of the season yesterday through this morning, and after getting stuck in a white-out snow squall on the turnpike last night, I could use a little brightening up! So I give you five deliciously colorful centerpieces to brighten up your table.

1. Hot Pink
   
   I used fuchsia at my own wedding, so it will always hold a soft place in my heart. This bright pink floral arrangement, balanced with a bit of green from the pears underneath, sits atop pink table linens.
   Image from Wedding Channel
   
   
2. Faux Floral
   
   For a more abstract touch, decorate your tabletop with works of art, like this metal flowers sculpture painted bright blue, green and yellow.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
3. Fluorescent Flowers
   
   Whoa! Yeah, this is bright. On top of a black tablecloth, these babies practically glow. (Tip: If you're using this color scheme, please let your bridesmaids wear black dresses--unless you want them to hate you.)
   Image from Wedding Channel
   
   
4. Mix-matched Blooms
   
   Arrange a few, small mismatched vases on your table and fill them each with a different brightly colored bloom or two for a casual feel.
   Image from The Knot
   
   
5. Bold Hues
   
   Top your table with a large bowl of boldly red carnations, and they'll just pop off a pale aqua and white color scheme.
   Image from Martha Stewart Weddings
   

A Vera Wang honeymoon

Vera Wang's name has become synonymous with wedding gowns, so why not extend the Vera Wang experience into the honeymoon? Most people realize that her designs go much further than wedding dresses, spanning everything from fashion to china to mattresses. But her name is also on an exclusive hotel suite at the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
The marketing and branding genius of this suite impresses me so much. First of all, though it's not labeled a "honeymoon" suite, putting her name, so popular with brides, on a hotel in one of the top honeymoon destinations was the right decision. Also, the suite creates a total Vera Wang experience--the ultimate goal of any branding program.

So if you stay in the Vera Wang Suite, what do you get? A gorgeous getaway with views of the Pacific Ocean, Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Vera Wang designed the suite herself, combining products from her home, bath, gift and accessories lines with unique Hawaiian furniture.

Beyond that, you'll even get to indulge in some of Vera Wang's personal favorites, like watching a film from her "Vera's favorites" movie library or sipping on a cocktail from the specialty menu she helped create.

The full list of amenities rivals any luxury suite, with a welcome gift, private butler service, in-room fine dining and more. In true Hawaii-style, you'll even receive a surfing lesson. Certainly, this is the place to stay for a relaxing, pampered honeymoon.

Pittsburgh flair: A black & gold wedding

Last week's Pittsburgh flair talked about treating your guests to some black and gold candy, but what if you want to take the Pittsburgh-inspired color scheme to greater lengths? What if black and gold were the colors of your wedding?

A black and gold event may conjure images more Steelers tailgate party than stylish wedding, but it doesn't have to be, as this inspiration board from Snippet and Ink proves:
When Snippet and Ink posted this a couple of weeks ago, I immediately thought of the Pittsburgh color scheme, though of course that wasn't what she had in mind. She describe it as being bold and unexpected, and it certainly is. But it still has a formal, elegant feel to it.

If you're going to plan a black and gold wedding, my advice is to keep most of the elements clean and classic. Also, a healthy dose of white will lighten things up. Go for style over local kitchy-nes. You'll end up with a wedding that's modern, memorable and totally Pittsburgh.

Fab 5: Spring '08 Runway Looks

The designers hit the runways last month with their latest offerings for Spring 2008. Here are my personal favorites from five top wedding dress designers.

1. Reem Acra: Flowing beauty
   
   A band of ribbon and a sprig of florals separate the detailed bodice and the wonderfully flowy skirt.
   
   
2. Oscar de la Renta: Elegant lace
   
   This incredibly detailed, embroidered gown screams elegance, but the shorter front allows a peek at the legs, adding a flirty flair.
   
   
3. Monique Lhuillier: Hollywood glam
   
   I love this halter wedding dress for its high shine and classic style. Timeless but totally glamorous!
   
   
4. Elizabeth Fillmore: Grecian goddess
   
   All of the dresses from this line remind me of the Grecian goddess look, but none more so than this one.
   
   
5. Carolina Herrera: Princess perfect
   
   If your heart desires the big poufy ball gown and lots of style, you'd be a perfect fit for this Cinderella-worthy wedding gown.

Can't afford a gown by a big-name designer? Don't worry, you're like most of us. But these top designers should influence the looks you'll see in more modestly priced lines. So pay attention to what you like, and look for it in wedding gowns when you're dress shopping.

And I promise to do a future Fab 5 on some more budget-friendly styles.

Images from New York Magazine

Searching for inspiration. . .

If you're trying to visualize the look and feel of your wedding, please visit Snippet & Ink. Every post features a different inspiration board around a particular theme. . .and every one is just as inspiring as the next.

Today was a bonus: two boards in one! I had a hard time choosing which Gatsby-themed board I liked best. Check out the Gatsby By Night board below--my ultimate choice only because I think it would play well with a fall wedding as well!

Fab 5: White Wedding Cakes

What could be more traditional than a white wedding cake? Unfortunately, a traditional white cake probably brings to mind three tiers of buttercream icing with buttercream piping and buttercream roses, and a plastic bride and groom on top.

Luckily you can have the white cake and still have a more modern style. Here are five fabulous cakes, all in white.

1. Modern Elegance
   
   Modern square tiers draped with smooth fondant serve as a backdrop to a cascade of gorgeous sugar orchids.
   Cake by Collette Foley Specialty Baking, Image from In Style Weddings
   
   
2. Winter Wonderland
   
   Perfect for a winter wedding, this sparkling white cake features edible snowflakes and a topping of ribbons.
   Cake by Carlo's Bakery, Image from Brides.com
   
   
3. Tradition Redefined
   
   Never mix white and ivory? No way! Four alternating tiers of ivory and white look simply gorgeous. Fleur de lis, fondant swagging and sugar paste roses decorate this wedding cake, topped with fresh flowers.
   Cake by Polly's Cakes, Image from Wedding Channel
   
   
4. Roses and Dots
   
   This simple and classic cake, iced in vanilla, features white Swiss dots all over and a decadent amount of white roses between each tier.
   Cake by Scrumptions, Image from The Knot
   
   
5. Detailed Design
   
   Created locally in New Castle, this hexagon-shaped cake features detailed piping design that alternates around the sides and tiers of the cake. One tier features the bride and groom's monogram.
   Cake and image from Jody's Pantry

You might be interested in:


The Ultimate Wedding Planner & Guide:
Everything the happy couple needs to plan their wedding with ease!
Compiled and written by a bride, this e-book includes ideas, wedding guest list, budget & checklist, contact list, reception ideas, gift list and more!

Designed locally by Sarah Hawkins

I'm always on the lookout for buzz-worthy work by local vendors, and Sarah Hawkins is certainly worthy of praise. The Pittsburgh-based designer creates custom invitations and announcements for weddings, babies and everyday life, and her line is sold throughout the U.S. and Canada.

A few samples of Sarah's work:

First and fourth designs from Wedding Paper Divas.
Second and third designs from Sarah Hawkins Designs.

Personalize your wedding: Put a stamp on it

Every bride wants her wedding to be special—but to guests, most weddings seem “cookie cutter.” The ceremony, the unity candle, the rice throw, the first dance, the cake cutting…if you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it a hundred times. But you can add special touches to your wedding that will make it personal and memorable and still incorporate important traditions.

Put a stamp on it

Business events often have their own brands, so why not your wedding? Create a “logo” for the big day and use it on your invitations, programs, menu cards and even your cake topper. You could design a monogram using your combined new initials, your first names or simply your new last initial. Or choose an element from your event’s theme or feel. For instance, if you’re getting married in a garden, select a flower or a butterfly for your signature stamp.

Don’t think you have the skill to pull this off? You can create a very nice logo using word processing software. Play around with fonts and text boxes to design a monogram, or search for free clip art for images. Also, ask a talented friend to help out—a great way for them to contribute to your wedding. If you have the budget, you can hire someone to handle the design and also incorporate it into other elements of your wedding.