Color Day Themes: Rustic Romance

Autumn in the Northeast is a beautiful time of year when the leaves on our trees glow with brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges.  Now, as we've said before, though coordinating and found together in nature, these hues can sometimes seem a little juvenile or hokey when put together as part of your decor. Sometimes the easiest way to gear up for Fall is to think "rustic".  Although rustic details are actually beautiful any time of year, they are particularly heartwarming in the fall.  Maybe it's because fall brings about a renewed connection with nature for many people or maybe it's because the smell of fall reminds us how much we love to layer, but whatever it is there is really nothing like the cozy and comfortable feeling of a rustic fall wedding.  Lucky for you, rustic details are easy!  Add a few loose flowers or candles to a mason jar, utilize branches and leaves, keep stationary simple, and add down home touches like pies or jam and you'll be all set!

Rustic Fall Wedding Inspiration Board

Images from: Anthropologie, ritzybee, Betsy White, Chillipit, Wedding Bee, Hello Lucky, Project Wedding, labellebride       

  

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Light Up Your Love

When planning a wedding, the details matter. One very important detail is lighting... and we're not talking about disco balls. Most of the time, lighting isn't something you can really control, as most venues come equipped with their own form of lighting. Nonetheless, you can still add in your own touches to create a romantic or dramatic atmosphere, and create the wedding of your dreams.

For a dramatic look, add in some ambient lighting. Use colors that fit your theme to highlight certain areas. For instance, you may want to emphasize the dance floor or the bridal party's table, or dim the lighting after dinner to create a club atmosphere. Change in lighting can make a huge difference, so don't be afraid to experiment! 

Outdoor weddings usually involve tents of some kind. While tents are very practical, they can be an eyesore. That's why you should dress up your ceiling with twinkle lights. Depending on how many lights you use, it really doesn't "light up" the space, but it does create a soft glow that is very romantic. We especially love the image above, as the dark tent with the twinkle lights creates a starry night sky, which is perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Whether your wedding is indoors or outdoors, paper lanterns are both functional and lovely. They can light up an event, act as decor, or both! You can fill the ceiling with them, create patterns, or arrange them haphazardly across the ceiling. You can always opt for a simple creme color, or throw in your wedding colors as well to create a fun and vibrant atmosphere. 

We always talk about candles and how they can both decorate and light up a space. These tree tea candles are a wonderful way to create a centerpiece and add some mood lighting. The space looks lovely and magical, plus you'll save money on flowers! 

When you're dealing with a large ceilings it's sometimes hard to fill up the space. Rather than attempting to hang fabrics, lanterns, or flowers form the ceiling, try a light protection, such as this one by Elegant Event Design. It fills up the space, adds some ambiance, and is great if you're having a winter wedding (think snow flakes!)

Lights, camera, wedding!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Wedding Style: Hauntingly Gorgeous Goth

It's finally here!  With Halloween just two days away, this post concludes our creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky series.  When planning for your Halloween event it is not always necessary to include ghosts, pumpkins, witches and the like. If those things seem a little too silly and childish for you then the best alternative for you would be to think in terms of Gothic style.  Instead of ghouls and spider webs you get roses and lace.  The key players in this motif are black and dark, blood red, candles, ornate damask prints, and lace.  These may not be the most traditionally beautiful spaces, but there is something eerily enchanting about this type of decor that we just can't seem to resist.

Horror movies always take place in the dark, which means you need candles! Candles are a great way of adding light and ambiance to your venue, and the type of candles you choose can really shape the theme of your wedding. You can opt for heavy pewter candelabras with tall, thin candles, or large pillar candles to give it a Gothic feel.

We truly believe that your choice in flowers really sets your wedding theme, which is why we think these black calla lilies are perfect if you're going for a dark, Gothic theme.  Lilies are often related to funerals and death, but traditionally they signify innocence and purity! Regardless, they are beautiful. If you're not into the lilies, however, then opt for black roses as a nice twist on tradition.

This Gothic wedding cake proves that beauty is in the details.  Seriously, how gorgeous is this cake?! It simple, but so detailed! Covered in swirls, vines and flowers, this cake really helps evoke the feelings of love and passion and it just looks too good to eat!

Or, for something even more dramatic (did you think that was possible?) check out this bloody masterpiece.  It's gorgeous in that American Beauty meets True Blood meets Twilight kind of way.

The first thing you think of when you think of horror and Gothic style are skulls, and we agree with that sentiment.  However, as far as your wedding goes, you may want to hold back on the skulls, as it can be a little too kitschy and Hot Topic for our tastes.  With that said, we think you can use skulls in your decor to add a subtle and interesting look, without coming off as too Avril Levine. Try this silver skull place card holder, for example. It's small, discrete, and tasteful (as far as skulls go), plus it's practical!

Antique rings are both unique and beautiful!  This antique Edwardian ring is an intricate little work of art and would be a perfect engagement ring for the off-beat or Gothic bride.

Sexy & sultry, the birdcage veil is a must have for a modern Gothic wedding.  There is something about it that is just so mysterious and alluring.  Plus, the feathers on top really help to give this a costume-y Halloween feel.

Unique guest books are always fun!  This ultra eerie book and feather pen are a beautiful and unique way incorporate the Halloween theme into your event.  The torn pages are a nice touch and create an aged look and the matte finish on the frame and table certainly add to the drama.

 The Goth bride can't just wear any old dress - she needs a dress with character, something enchanting and a little different. Luckily Claire Pettibone has such a great eye for romantic details and this dress from her 2009 Fall collection is perfect for our post today.  Having a Halloween wedding doesn't have to mean costumes and scary make-up, it can be really feminine and pretty if done the right way.

Double, double toil and trouble.

XOXO
Jen & Saira

Color Day: Halloween (Orange and Black)

Better late than never!  We apologize to our regular readers for having to wait so long for today's color post so, without further ado:

 When it comes to selecting color schemes not everyone goes for soft, coordinating colors. Some brave souls take the road less traveled and go for bold contrast. Luckily for those with a flair for fright, Halloween is all about the drama! Orange and black are the traditional colors associated with Halloween, probably due to a variety of things such as darkness, death, and the general orange-y colors of the harvest. Orange and black can be a fun pairing to really get you in the "spirit" of fall, but it can also be elegant and warm depending on the shades of orange you go with.  A vibrant orange will give you that youthful, spooktacular, kind of feel while a butternut squash or pumpkin hue will create a space that feels more cozy and sophisticated.

Black and Orange Halloween Color Inspiration Board

Images from: a variety of wonderful sources that were lost when Jen's computer crashed.  We are working to recover them and will credit accordingly.

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Orange You Lovely

A good wedding guest will show up on time, not run up the drink tab, and compliment the decor or theme... at least that's our theory. Fall weddings means lots of orange details, and your attire should be no exception! While wearing orange is usually a pretty bold choice, especially at a more formal event, here are some ways to wear the color du jour and still look on fire:

You definitely won't be mistaken for a pumpkin in this sexy burnt orange dress by Elie Tahari.  It's soft and feminine enough to wear at a wedding or formal event, but add a blazer and you're all set for work or a night out. 

If orange isn't exactly your color, you can still look festive with this gorgeous floral necklace featuring orange tones in tiger lilies and hibiscus.  Wear it with a solid colored dress, and allow your accessories to speak for themselves.

Every gossip girl knows that you must have a headband of power to coordinate with every outfit.  Dress yourself from head to toe with this handmade headband designed with flowers and feathers. It's not too over the top, but it's definitely a fun and bold choice. Whether you have a cute pixie cut our luscious locks, your hair will thank you.

While not exactly subtle, this plaid dress plays up fall colors in a more understated way.  The geometrical neckline is only for the bold, but if you can pull it off, you will look sweet and sexy at the same time, as well as very fashion forward.

We're big fans of wearing bold shoes, like these orange satin pumps pictured above (which by the way are identical to the shoes Jen wore at her wedding!) We think it looks best with a more muted color dress, but if you're a New York Mets fan and want to pair these shoes with your royal blue dress, who are we to stop you?!

We're going to throw caution to the wind and say that you can pair this handmade clutch with a number of different colored dresses. Don't worry too much about matching... just focus on not clashing! We love this fabric because it shows different shades of red, orange, and yellow depending on how you hold it. So while you can definitely pair this with your LBD, why not accessorize your cute purple halter dress as well?

Your wrists deserve to be adorned with the warm and rich colors of fall!  We like this pumpkin/squash colored bracelet by Tooli.  At just $30 the price is right, it would look great with any color of the season, and it has little touches of pearls, perfect for brides and bridemaids, that add a refined touch of class.

Orange you glad we didn't say banana?

XOXO
Jen & Saira

  

Halloween Planning: More Treats, Less Tricks

Halloween is one of our favorite times of years, and it's only a week away! Almost every year we throw a Halloween party with all our friends, who have the most amazing, over-the-top costumes. And when you have serious Halloween costumes, then you need serious Halloween treats. Here are some ideas on how to get creative and express the true spirit of Halloween:

This looks disgusting, but it's actually delicious! It's just shortbread cookies topped with almonds and a little bit of red dessert sauce. The hardest part is getting the shape right, and adding in the authentic finger lines. But if you can pull it off, then this will be one grossly yummy snack!

Halloween cupcakes are one of the most creative treats to make. The smooth, rounded surfaces makes for a great palette, and there are endless options available online. Rather than provide an exhaustive list, we decided to feature these cupcakes that are to die for! We're not entirely sure how they made the little knives on top, our guess is that they took some card stock, cut it shape, and threw some icing on top. Of course, an all edible version would be perfect, so if you have any ideas how to do this, please let us know! 

If you're not much of a baker, then these vampire cupcakes are for you. We like this cupcake style because it's simple, a little creepy, and a little artsy. Plus they're super simple to make: all you need is vanilla icing and some red gel, and voilà! You have your own mini Edward Cullen, sorta. 

Halloween doesn't have to only be about candy! Check out these creepy teeth made from healthy and delicious apples! All you need is a half a dozen apples, a sharp knife, and maybe some lemon juice to keep it looking fresh. On second thought, the apple turning brown will make it that much creepier! 

There are many ways to make creepy eyeball snacks (cupcakes, deviled eggs, fresh mozzarella) but we love how squish and slimy these lichee eyeballs look! They're pretty easy to make, you just need some fresh lichees, strawberry jam, and blueberries. Of course, we're not sure how many of your guests will want to actually eat these... they look a little too real.

Another simple, but very festive option, are these blood test tube shots. Fill them with anything you want, fruit punch, jello shots, what have you, and throw in some little gummy spiders to add some extra spook to it.

These tombstone pudding cups are very detailed, but require very few ingredients! You just need some dark chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs, cookies, and some chocolate icing. The little flowers are a good touch, but if you're feeling especially morbid, you can also throw in some little skeleton hands!

Happy Halloween!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Black and Purple

Jen's back from vacation, and just in time for this week's color day!  Let's dig a little deeper into the holiday of the season and explore some excellent color combinations for Halloween themed or Gothic style weddings or parties.  Of course we'll do the traditional orange and black in the upcoming weeks, but before we get to that, we figured we could show you some other takes on Halloween that are sure to create a dark and down right spooky kind of event.  Orange isn't for everyone.  So if you love Halloween but sunshine orange makes you cringe, don't fret.  Purple is sexy and classy enough for the modern bride, but creepy and eerie enough to take the phrase "til death" to a whole new level.

Halloween Black and Purple Wedding Inspiration Board

Images from: Project Wedding, Couture Events by Lottie, Marilyn San Clemente , Elizabeth Ann Designs, Zena Dia Design,  Manolo Blahnik Shoe Shops, Polyvore, Chrissy Watson, Jamball, Create and Adorn

XOXO

Jen & Saira