Wedding motif: Evolution of Vintage Whimsy (Part 1)

As of now, the toughest and (only) stressful part of preparing a wedding that I'm encountering is deciding on the theme.  Actually, I prefer not to call it a 'theme' since we don't want people to think that just because I'm describing our wedding as 'vintage whimsy' doesn't mean that they should expect a costumed affair.  Nope.  We are not having one of those.

I'd rather refer to 'vintage whimsy' as more of a mood.  Like how we'd want the overall wedding day to be.  There would be elements of the old world (hello, rustic candelabras) while at the same time exuding a certain dreamy, almost ethereal feel (no butterflies, please!  but hello, whimsical, cursive fonts on pretty invites).

While we haven't finalized the inspiration board yet, I present to you the very 1st draft that I made for our 'vintage whimsy wedding'.  (I say 'we' because every wedding mood board I make still needs to get Mr. J's approval)

Our official wedding theme is...

Vintage whimsy!

Unless I change my mind again.  Haha!  Truth be told, I'm already happy with this theme.  So happy and so excited that I have managed to finish my long overdue wedding inspiration board.  Been spending much of my time lately trying to piece together our wedding mood board that I will really, really be proud of.  Tonight, it's mission accomplished for me.

BUT, I won't be sharing this one until it's almost time for my wedding with Mr. J.  =P

I will share though some of the images that I had considered but was not included in the finished board simply because I couldn't use them all.

This is from Australian clothing brand Rose & Ruby.  I've always liked their collections.  They are just the right amount of sweet and romance.  Plus, I love how their collections are always cohesive without being matchy-matchy (the latter being major thumbs up for me).

Vintage floral fascinator from SchickiMickis (an Etsy seller).  Everything about this picture just screams sweet vintage to me.

This fabric and feather flower bouquet is from another Etsy find, Jewel Box Ballerina by Eliza Mariano.  If I had the talent for it, I'd probably DIY something like this for my entourage.  Pretty + Inexpensive = A Happy Bride.

  

When I saw this table arrangement in Style Me Pretty, I was transported to wedding tablescape heaven.

Deliciously gorgeous!  If I remember correctly, Pacific Weddings had a shoot for a Vintage French Farmhouse-inspired wedding and this is the dessert table.  And as much as I love, love, love this picture, I had to let it go because the blue will stick out too much for my own wedding board.  I was, for a time, flirting with the idea of having something blue as one of my wedding color accents.  I finally decided (well, for now, at least) that I'll just stick with the original colors I had in mind.

My October 2010 wedding roundup

Just a few more of the wedding stuffs I loved this month...

Lovin' Michelle Rahn's gowns especially that pretty short cocktail number.

Since it's the spooky month, groove to this Halloween-inspired tunes for your spookfest-inspired wedding theme.  In relation to this,

...why not color your nails a gorgeous burgundy?

Karen Tran and Nancy Liu Chin (together with Preston Bailey, of course) makes my floral dreams into reality.

Attending a friend's wedding and you want that chic Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Sunset BLVD in Rose Florentin but don't have the budget for it?  No problem.  Just rent one via Bag Borrow or Steal and hopefully get it photographed by someone as talented as...

...Lisa Lefkowitz.  I have been loving Lisa's work since I discovered it from one of the featured weddings in Style Me Pretty.

Elie Saab's 2011 Fall Bridal Gown collection rocks!

Wedding motif: Silver and Pink

I have never been a fan of the color silver.  Sure it has that certain shine that says 'glamour'.  But beyond that, it's a pretty dull color for me.  However, when my obsession with weddings started, it's fascinating to find that silver can work.. even when paired with pink.

I like how a pink shade can romanticize and soften an otherwise chic but may be a little boring (for me!) color.

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Sources (from left):
1st row
The Knot Pink flowers on clear vase for wedding reception table decor
Etsy: Karen Meyers Organza purse
Etsy: Joan Shum Tea-length wedding gown

2nd row
The Knot Gray bridesmaid dress with pink bouquet
Etsy: Something Jeweled Pink and silver bracelet
Etsy: lvandy27 Silver and pink wedding invitation
The Knot Pink-dressed entourage

3rd row
Etsy: itsmyday Pink and silver garter
Etsy: Kelly Johnston Necklace
The Knot Reception place card

Wedding motif teaser: Silver and Pink

I did not anticipate how busy and lazy I will be this month.  Because of this, I have not been able to make as much wedding boards as I would have wanted to.  Sorry!  Busy and lazy are such potent combination.  Haha!  Too many things to do.. too little energy to finish them all! =P

Currently, I'm still finishing my pink and silver wedding inspiration board.  For now, I leave you with a kissing bird image that I think could be a nice monogram design.  Just add your initials on the side and you're good to go.

Wedding motif: Retro chic

My inspiration for this wedding board is Birnbaum and Bullock's Audrey-inspired wedding gown.  When I was starting to collect images to support the dress, I realized that I wanted something that was retro-fun without the diner look.  And so to achieve the wedding look that I wanted, I incorporated vintage elements that will still keep the ambience fun and chic rather than formal or too casual.  I think I managed to create a wedding board with such a mood. *Hopefully, you guys agree too.*

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The choice of transportation of course will be a fab top-down vintage car that will take you to your retro-vintage inspired wedding reception.  I imagine a wedding with this theme in mind will be done in an open grass area with white tents and tables with light gold tablecloth and decorated with pink roses placed on antique-finished teacups.  Lately, I have been loving lounge setups during cocktail hour wherein instead of chairs and sofas, there are blankets and pillows strewn on the ground.  For your entourage, the bridesmaids can wear different style of dresses in monochromatic shades of pink.  You can also gift them with pearl-accessorized jewelry on a gold chain.  This they can wear on your wedding day.

You may also apply touches of pink or gold in other small (but definitely not insignificant) details like ribbons for favor tags, hair accessories for even the littlest of guest (that cute 1-yr. old niece of yours will look adorable in a pink rosette headband as pictured above), or even to accentuate the food labels in your buffet table.  Other colors that I think will help highlight this particular wedding theme are bronze and cream.

Sources (clockwise from top-left):
Birnbaum and Bullock Audrey-style cocktail wedding dress
Unknown Flowers on vintage teacups
Etsy: briguysgirls Pearl earring and necklace set
Snippet and Ink Outdoor wedding lounge
Etsy: BannerBoutiqueOnEtsy Pink rosette headband
Amy Atlas Dessert bar
Elizabeth Anne Designs Vintage car
Olive Manna Twill tape fabric ribbon

Wedding motif: Light blue with silver accents

My favorite color is blue and I particularly like the lighter shade versions.  Although I will not be using this color on my own wedding (I want a more old world-soft pinks feel), I did find some wedding inspirations that I think would be perfect for a chic wedding motif using light blue (think sky) with accents of silver (think jewelry) to spice things up.

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As promised, I am featuring a cocktail-length wedding-worthy gown.  The ivory silk shantung fabric with a waist accented with Chantilly lace trim plus floral detail gives the look a laid back but oh-so-chic look.  Wear with a birdcage veil for more drama.  For accessories: Still in accordance with the wedding theme, you can gift your bridesmaids with any silver jewelry with perhaps a blue gemstone attached to it.  I also particularly liked the touch of having silver brooches as accents to the bridal bouquet.

I would prefer using white/cream and very, very light pink flowers so that your blue color would pop out more.  And to add more glamour to you wedding table setting, why not use a silver place card holder (bonjour Paris!).  Think subtle chic.

Sources (from top left):

Top row
Jim Hjelm Blush Bridal Gowns Cocktail-length wedding gown
Etsy: lulieyal Pendant earrings
Blog: Karen Tran Designs and Events Reception Table Setup

Bottom row
Etsy: idoweddingveils Birdcage veil with flower detail
Elizabeth Anne Designs Wedding bouquet with bridal entourage
Little Things Favors Eiffel Tower place card holder

My August wedding roundup

My thought process for making a wedding board is this: collect, collect, select, and then post. And one would think that's the end of it, right? Not for me. Even when I have posted a mood board already, somehow I still find items that I think would be too pretty and too perfect for the inspiration board that I had made. And although I have the option to just save them for now then use them later, that isn't really how my brain works. There would be this nagging feeling at the back of my head that I have an unfinished business if I don't share it with you guys.

And so here I am, with a roundup on wedding motifs I featured for August and additional items that I think you might be interested in adding.

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Source: AzureTreasures (Etsy) Pearl bracelet

Another beautiful vintage-inspired pearl bracelet.

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Source: LakeGemsBeachGlass (Etsy) Charm bracelet

Ahhh. My Tiffany blue beach-theme. I used to have a charm bracelet when I was a kid (lost if mid-teens). As a kid, this was one of my favorite jewelry and I bet your flower girls or junior bridesmaids will do, too.

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Source: bluebirdheaven (Etsy) Flower girl basket

If you want a more traditional (but still has that forest-y look) approach to your flower girl baskets, you may want this one.

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Source: The Knot Cups with wheat grass as escort card holders

This is cute. I like that instead of placing all of your reception escort cards on a wheat grass all together. The cappuccino (or demitasse) cup with wheat grass to hold the cards makes it individualized. The OC in me likes it for the more organized feel to it. Note: Cards shown are in hot pink/orange but you can easily replace it with something yellow or green to match the lemon and lime theme.

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Source: namolio (Etsy) Flower crochet brooch

I immediately had this image in my head when I saw this accessory: I'm attending a peacock-themed wedding and wearing a light-colored (I have a tendency to favor them) cocktail dress with this brooch pinned on.

Wedding motif: Lemon and Lime

Color me yellow. Somehow my brain screams this line in my head whenever I'm extra happy (translation: when I'm extra chirpy than usual). It reminds me of the warmth of the sun in the morning, refreshing lemonade on an extra hot day, and limes. The last bit is due to limes being the one grown locally. Whenever I think lemon my thoughts tend to drift to limes eventually (same citrus family, I suppose). For this board, I am using the colors of the two fruits as wedding motif.

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Sources (from left):

1st row
Whitebox Weddings Kate Spade shoes on clothes line
Little Things Favors Honey-scented beeswax candle
Jill Thomas Photography Groom holding lemons

2nd row
Blog: Nicolehill Yellow dessert table
Finishing Touch Event Design Escort cards on wheat grass

3rd row
Kelly Oshiro Events Private Montecito estate
Martha Stewart Weddings Wedding cake by Gail Watson

4th row
Andre Niesing Photography Bride wearing strapless wedding gown
Beth Helmstetter Events Wedding reception table decor
Charms of Light Yellow opal earrings

I imagine lush greenery for reception venue (or even for the ceremony). You can then decorate tables with chic yellow goodness. Yellow and green does not need to be found in literary one item only for this wedding color combo to work (e.g. green flower girl dress with yellow sash). I don't really recommend that. Instead, let them complement each other (e.g. yellow table decor and escort card using green font placed on top of wheat). For bridesmaids' gift, those yellow opal earrings aren't just pretty jewelry. They also (supposedly) have spiritual and healing properties.

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I can't remember my source for this. If anyone knows, do contact me. =)

Interesting tip: If you want to add color (apart from the obvious whites), you may want to don a red bridal shoes instead of the usual neutral color. Kinda like the one shown in the photo above.

Wedding motif: Peacock is the new black

In a few minutes, I'll be out on a date with Mr. J. He's taking me to this new restaurant near his office that sells roti prata because he knows how much I've been craving for one since our last Singapore visit almost 2 months ago. (Forgive the post as this is in a rush)

I've collected a few inspirations that may help in making a peacock wedding theme work.

Reception table: I like the forest-woodsy vibe I'm getting with this table. Reminds me of a peacock's natural habitat: nature.

Source: unknown seller (Etsy)

Bride's hair accessory: I prefer this as a bride's accessory seeing that the colorful peacock feather would certainly stand-out against the white/cream/champagne (or any other usual light-color wedding gown). Besides, who better to carry the theme if not the bride, right?

Source: AzureTreasures (Etsy)

Bridesmaid jewelry: I just love the color in this necklace. Perfect for your bridesmaids' to wear; just a simple accessory that represents the wedding theme and happens to be fab, too.

Source: Good Earth Floral Design Studio

Bride's bouquet: Too pretty not to post and if you are already wearing a hair clip made of peacock feather, the green and purple combination in the bouquet would be just right.

Source: CleopatraKerckhof (Etsy)

Wedding guest: If you want a statement accessory and the wedding you'll be attending has a (you guessed it) peacock as wedding motif, you'd fit right in with this necklace.

Wedding motif: Tiffany blue

Source: Tiffany & Co.

I was once that girl who dreamed of an engagement ring that comes in a box that is a shade of light aqua blue and wrapped in a white shiny ribbon. Truth be told, I am not sure which I like more back then: a Tiffany & Co. ring or the box that came with it. I was so charmed with the color of the box (may be used as a fabulous wedding favor box) that I have decided to make a wedding inspiration board with this color in mind.

Gone are those days when I pine for wedding rings that come in a Tiffany box. However, my love of all things pretty is still there and so has my liking for the Tiffany blue shade. There is just certain chicness to it. May it be a cosmopolitan wedding (think New York penthouse, cocktail dresses, and blue martini) or a beach-themed wedding; I can really imagine using this for a wedding motif. For this post, I've decided for a beach-chic look.



Sources (clockwise from top-left):

pompandplumage (Etsy seller) Garter with Tiffany blue cameo set
Amy Kuschel Wedding gown
Millie Holloman Photography French macaroons
Style Me Pretty Groom's suit
buttongrass (Etsy seller) Pillow
J. Cogliandro Photography Couple on the beach
Jennifer Cress Photography Reception decor
GallaJewelry (Etsy seller) Pearl bracelet

Wedding motif: Forest, Forest, Forest

When I think of wedding motifs, a forest theme seems to always manage to make it to my list. For such a simple (and I don’t mean that negatively) color combination, when done correctly, it will never fail to illicit that “awww, shucks…so pretty” reaction from people.

Here’s my attempt on a forest-themed wedding inspiration board. Truth be told, I am considering this theme for my own nuptials particularly with my wedding reception layout. And once again, I’m featuring my Etsy finds… not just one but three!

Feel free to leave a comment as I’m always delighted to hear feedback of my works.

Sources (clockwise from top-left):

The Cupcake Forest Carrot cupcake
Betsy White Ecru dinner menu stationery
Braggingbags (Etsy seller) Flower girl basket
Good Earth Floral Design Studio Wedding bouquet holder
Braggingbags (Etsy seller) Woodland lantern
Badang Rueda (Philippine-based stylist/florist) Bride's bouquet
David’s Bridal Mikado gown with ruffle details at the back
Wandaandkrystyna (Etsy seller) Brown favor box

Wedding motif: Just like a strawberry sundae

I’m going to be away for awhile but before I temporarily sign-off, I’ve made another wedding inspiration board: pink and brown wedding.

 

I’ve always loved pink but I admit that it can be a little girly at times.  And this is why I just ♥ pink + brown.  I like that the chocolate brown color balances and takes a little off the sweetness of the color pink.  When I imagine these two colors together, I imagine sweetness but just the right amount.  Just like a strawberry sundae.

 

 

Sources (clockwise from top left):

 

Kaboodle Flower girl dress

Blog: Odi et Amo Ruthie Sommers Room 

Blog: Such Pretty Things Haircomb with vintage flowers

ShySiren (Etsy seller) Four leaf clover earrings

Sophies Favors Pink and Brown favor box

The Dessy Group Espresso swatch

Wilton Paper cups

Wedding motif: Mint for each other

My 8-10 hours job (depending on work demand) keeps me busy from Monday to Friday.  And since I’m really a nocturnal person, I tend to sleep late even after getting home late.  On those hours, I am kept busy by only two things: wedding stuffs and/or Facebook games. =P

And of the zillions of FB games out there, I am most addicted with Restaurant City.  I will not bother to explain what this game is all about because if you don’t know yet, count yourself lucky as this game can be very addictive. *grin*  Now, you’re probably thinking what the heck does a Facebook game have anything to do with weddings, right?  Currently, there’s this ingredient that I badly need so that I can upgrade a Kiwi drink to level 10.  If you guessed Mint, then you’re right.

Since mint has been on my mind lately, I figured I’d make a mood board of some sort with the green color in mind.

Green and gold works well together.  I added the red cake to give this motif a bit of a bolder tone since this color combination would work well if you keep both green and gold on the lighter/paler shade.  Too dark of a green will give it a woodsy feel to it and that’s not what I envisioned here.  The gold is meant to be an accent so it needs to be on a lighter shade like champagne.  This could be a nice, festive but not that loud motif.  I would suggest that you use red only on one statement piece like your wedding cake.

Sources (clockwise starting from leftmost image):

• Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaid dress style no. 0904
• Martha Stewart Wedding Ikat and French Silk Ribbon Wedding Cake
• Monique Lhuillier Style BL0901 from her more affordable wedding gown collection, Bliss
• The Knot Champagne mojito
• Tamar (Etsy seller) Two 22K Gold Plated Headbands

PS.  You can find the mojito recipe here.

Get inspired

There's something about weddings that have always managed to make me smile (on some rare occasion, cringe, but that's for another blog entry).  It may be the gown (oh those ruffles!), the jewelry (unlimited sparkle.. no one can possibly resist this), the event styling (from a simple English garden to an extravagant 'Alice in Wonderland'-inspired theme), the flowers (a rose is never just a rose), and everything else in between.  I suppose it's a grown-up version of playing dress up and throwing a party.  You get all of it in one big event.. and it's for you and your partner!

And because I have been surfing the 'Net for years and years now just ogling at all things wedding-y, I might as well share my finds with everyone else.

Here are several inspiration boards that I've adored over the years:

   

 

   

If you feel like creating your own board, Dessy makes that task easy.  The site also has a lot on its gallery of finished boards depending on the color motif.

FINALLY.

This is what most of the people in my life said.

 

Finally, Mr. J and I are officially engaged. Even though I knew this was coming already (just didn't know when and exactly where and how), it still is a different level of happiness once he finally slipped the ring in my finger.  I can't divulge the details of the proposal as it is something we would like to keep a secret.  But I can tell this: it happened in Mandarin Oriental Singapore.  For this, I will forever ♥ Manda SG (this is how Mr. J and I usually refer to the hotel that we've been staying in every time we go to Singapore).  Just for the record, even without the proposal happening there, we have always loved the hotel with its excellent customer service and beautiful rooms.  No wonder it's usually #1 (or #2) in TripAdvisor ratings.

 

Speaking of ring, I highly recommend Vivo Diamonds Singapore. This is where my now-fiancé (i just love being able to call him that.. my fiancé) Mr. J bought the e-ring and I am way more than happy with the service and the outcome. The quality of the ring? Let’s just say that it was so gorgeous that my Mom is seriously considering having one made for her. And between the two of us, it’s really my mom and sister who are into jewelries.

 

Just a brief background on Vivo (located in Singapore); it’s an online jewelry retailer (similar to Blue Nile) except that they have an actual office wherein you could view the stones and setting first before purchasing it. Also, if you pay in cash, you get a discount. Plus, Isaac Poh, is super nice and very knowledgeable when it comes to diamonds (he's a GIA-graduate gemologist).

 

My ring 's center stone is a 0.60 carat round brilliant with HCA score of 0.9. Color is E with clarity of VS2. All the other round brilliant stones have the same clarity and color.

 

So, there we go. I will now have to put a strikethrough in my profile description.

 

I’m engaged.

 

Finally.