At this time of year I crave a good glass of wine in the evening and look forward to early fall wine festivals. There is something very intriguing and romantic about an evening with wine, good food, and conversation.

Thus came the inspiration for a "moss-inspired" vineyard wedding. I love the natural texture and inherent beauty of moss. Decor can focus on terrarium-style containers with ferns and moss. Add a sprig of rosemary and some cream colored roses for fragrant, visual interest.

For an outdoor wedding and reception at a vineyard everything can be kept simple, allowing the natural surroundings to shine. For a touch of elegance add patio lighting or candles to your tables.

Image #1 is a good example of the freedom this style wedding allows you - your bridesmaids can pick out dresses in a few different shades of green or tan and be a beautiful compliment to your dress, the outdoor backdrop and best of all - they can pick a dress they truly feel beautiful in. This is important as none of us have the same skin tone or body shape.

Best of all the relaxed atmosphere will lend itself to a fun night of conversation, dancing and celebration of a new marriage!

Sources: 

1. Dresses    2. Table Setting with Burlap Runner
3. Rustic Cake   4. Cream Colored Roses
5. Rosemary Sprig Place-setting   6. Table with Candles
7. Bride and Groom with Vines   8. Table with Flowers and Candles
9. Moss Covered Frame

Late Summer Vineyard Wedding

Post Created for bridebookva.com | The Official bridebook Blog 

Inspired by the lovely vineyards in the state of Virginia, I thought a simple, outdoor wedding celebration would be fun to develop a board for.

The basis for this wedding would be to eat, socialize, and of course celebrate with wine & cheese.

I chose natural colors of brown, moss, tan, and cream to compliment the colors of an outdoor wedding. What’s more simple than a lush green back drop, some hydrangea blooms and wine barrels? Pretty elegant, if you ask me.

Have a wine tasting and cheese plate near by, dine via long tables with patio lights for a romantic setting. But just don’t forget a place for the dance floor!

Sources: 

1. Reception 2. Bridesmaid 3. Bridal Bouquet 4. Invitations 5. Boutonnieres

6. Table Setting 7. Centerpieces 8. Ceremony Arch 9. Bridal party 10. Cheese and Fruit

Nature Inspired Outdoor Wedding

Post created for WV Weddings | Planners Palette Blog

Inspired by the lush green backdrops of the Pocahontas County Mountains while I was home this weekend, I had a fun idea for a casual, nature-inspired wedding celebration.

Warm creams, ivories, tans, and pale greens compliment the deep green on rain-water grasses.
West Virginia is a beautiful state and August is a perfect time to get outside, take your vows, and celebrate your beautiful heritage and new life, together.

Use white or ivory hydrangeas as your main flower to decorate tables and aisles. String lights inside your tent and add rosemary and green leaves to your cake and place-settings for fresh, fragrant charm.

If you are planning to celebrate at a WV Vineyard, take advantage of their many wine barrels for a simple but elegant backdrop. Also do a wine and cheese tasting. And make sure there's a big dance floor!

Sources: 

1. Flowers  2. Gown  3. Aisle and Pews
4. Flower Barrel  5. Cake  6. Bridesmaids  7. Table
8. Invitation  9. Reception Area  10. Table Decor

Romantic Pink, Blush, and Gold Inspiration

 

I had a little free time at the beginning of July and created 4 (!) romantic, golden themed wedding inspiration boards. This is obviously a passion for me because I take time that I deem valuable and create these boards. It's entertaining and relaxing. 

The gold and pink theme jumps out at me this time of year. If you look back a year ago  I have the same inclination towards celebrating with pink and gold. It's romantic, trendy yet definitely classic, it all depends on the accessories and accents used to define the celebration. 

However trendy or classic you go with this theme it will be a memorable, sparkly  occasion. 

Happy Planning! 

Caroline

Sources: 

1. Dahlias   2. Sequin Table Cloth  3. Pink Clutch

4. Table Setting  5. Invitation   6. Peony Bouquet 

7. Cut-out Detail Invitations  8. Gold Shoes  9. Sequin Table Setting

10. Pink Table Decor  11. Earrings and Heels  12. Chargers & Silverware 

13. Wedding Party Style  14. Golden Apple  15. Reception Decor

16. Floral Inspiration  17. Ceremony Decor Close-up   18. Ceremony Decor

Romantic Gold & Blush Celebration

Gold & Blush Wedding Inspiration Board created for WV Weddings

See Original Post at WV Weddings Blog 

July is a month known for it's warm weather celebrations and my inspiration comes from the latest wedding trend: sequins. They are at once romantic, trendy and very celebratory. 

The gorgeous sequin gown in spot #2, would be an elegant, yet nontraditional wedding dress for the bride wishing to shine all night. 

Continue the sequins theme through to a table cloth for accent as in images #1 & #5 and in image #7, a cake baker has abstracted sequins for a delicious looking sweet treat. 

Roses, peonies, and babies breath would be the perfect simple bouquet accompaniment to a shiny dress and table setting.

Sources: 

1. Place Setting 2. Gold Dress 3. Drapery
4. Altar 5. Table 6. Table Decor
7. Cake 8. Reception Venue
9. Blush Table Setting
10. Ribbon Banner
11. Bridesmaids

Classic Navy and Peony Pink - More on the Pattern Play Theme

As seen on the bridebook Wedding Inspiration Blog 

Want to have a classic affair but not seem stuffy? This distinguished color palette is elegant with a playful twist: the incorporation of prints and patterns of polka dots, chevrons, and stripes.

Keep the theme subtle for the ceremony with a demure polka dot pattern in your wedding dress (#1), clothe your ‘maids in elegant lace (#7) with a stripped ribbon on the bouquet  (#5) and have your groom wear a fun, but gentlemanly bow tie with stripes (#4).

Kick the fun up a notch at the reception with chevron napkins (#8), flags (#6), and details on your cake that match your dress or bouquet. In this cake’s case (#11) peonies are in season and a simple navy blue ribbon surround the outside.

Send guests home with salt water taffy in your wedding colors, a fun summer-time treat!

Sources:

1. Wedding gown 2. Bridesmaid Dress 3. Colors 4. Neckwear 5. Bouquet

6. Decor 7. The Girls 8. Table Settings 9. Invitations 10. Centerpiece 11. Cake

Peonies and Pattern Play

Navy, pink, stripes, and polka dots come together with sophistication and flair.

As Seen on WV Weddings Blog 

Love stripes and polka dots but don't want an overly vintage affair? 

Make it modern by choosing a bold base color (navy, in this case) and a bright, modern color (magenta) and incorporate plenty of white into your palette. 

Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns: the invitations in this board incorporate dots and stripes in a pleasing manner. Pick a dress with a very fine dotted fabric for a fun, romantic, yet modern dress and incorporate your beautiful dress design into the cake. Need more pattern ideas? To not overwhelm the decorations, keep the prints to accessories. Think ribbons on place settings, dots on ties for your groom, and funky stripes on your own heels. 

Incorporate large blooms of peonies into your theme for an in-season, simple addition to your fun-loving affair. 

Have fun planning!

Sources

1. Polka Dot Dress 2. Navy Bridesmaid 3. Polka Dot Cake
4. Invitations 5. Pink & Navy Decor 6. Sign
7. Ties 8. Navy Striped Shoes

Navy & Yellow

As seen on the WV Weddings Blog  

With the early May showers this season I was inspired to choose a blue and yellow palette. Each can be powerful colors. I chose a bright yellow with gold tones and a deep navy for balance. This palette is perfect for any time of the year, whether it be football fans celebrating their union in the fall or sailors tying the knot during the summer. It's a versatile color palette with white and yellow floral in season nearly all year long. 

Sources: 

1. Navy and Yellow Wedding Invitations  2. Navy and Yellow Menu  3. Navy ETSY Sash
4. Navy and Yellow Clutches  5. Navy Groom's Suit  

6. Yellow Wedding Cake Photographer Jamie Clayton  7. Yellow Wedding Bouquet and Tie
8. Navy, Yellow, and White Vintage Styled Wedding Cakes 9. Navy and Yellow ETSY Necklace
10. Wedding Invitations 11. Bride and Groom Kissing
12. White, Navy, and Yellow Florals  Photographer Jamie Clayton  13. Yellow Heels
14. Navy and Yellow Table Decor

Fresh Greens & White as seen on the WV Weddings Blog

 

Planner's Palette | WV Weddings

I forgot to post this in August, so here's a little summer inspiration for bride's looking to get married in the warm months of August or September. Have a blast planning!!

August is a beautiful time of year in West Virginia. It seems the green of the mountains and fields brighten before they slowly become ablaze in gold and red hues.

Thus, a green and white wedding in August is very fitting. A simple outdoor affair with fern fronds, leaves, and white flowers to grace tables and wedding bouquets. It's a perfect casual evening affair to celebrate outside and dance under the warm August stars.

Sources: 

1. Table  2. Flowers & Details  3. Bridesmaids Gowns  4. Ribbon Tablescape
5. Invitations  6. White Bouquet  7. Table Settings  8. Green Bouquet
9. Bride  10. White Gowns 11. White Cake

Starstruck as seen on the WV Weddings Blog

Starstruck on the Planner's Palette Blog

This board was inspired by the antithesis of red, white, and blue—not that I don't want to celebrate Independence Day but sometimes July weddings are overwhelmed by such intense colors. I kept the "star" struck theme but see a more toned-down, romantic July celebration in the works.

The beauty of a wedding like this is in the details: from the patterned invitation envelope liner, to the glitter sprinkles on the cupcakes, to the metallic star paper used for proper place settings.
What else is a July wedding for if not to celebrate love, romance, fireworks, the season, and our freedom? It's a wonderful set of memories rolled into one beautiful day.

Sources:

1. Invitation Liner  2. Gold Accessories  3. Glitter 4. Cake Pops
5. Bridesmaid Dresses  6. Roses  7. Glitter Cupcakes  8. Gold Heels
9. Floral Accents  10. Glitter Slingbacks 11. Ruffled Neckline Wedding Gown
12. Pink Centerpieces 13. Golden Garden 14. Gold Bridesmaid Dress
15. Pink and Gold Wedding Cake  16. Tablescape
17. Metallic Gold Wedding Cake  18. Place Setting
19. Ribbon Accents

Celebratory Succulents as seen on WV Weddings Blog.

Created for the WV Weddings Planners Palette 

Want to throw a wedding party and have flowers that will last as long as the memories? This board was inspired by a blog post showing a bride holding her succulent bouquet and the adjacent photo was the newlywed holding her bouquet on her one year anniversary. That's a fun concept.

To welcome spring—royal purple and grays accent the natural blue-greens of the succulents. Succulents would be an easy addition to any jewel toned wedding theme as well. Peacock feathers, moss, and ribbon add whimsy to the celebration.

Make wedding guest memories last just as long by sending them home with miniature potted succulents, easy to take care of even for the least inclined gardener. 

Sources:

1. Bride with Her Bouquet  2. Wedding Cake  3. Lace Gown
4. Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses  5. Succulent Arrangement
6. Color Inspiration   7. Groomsmen Mismatched Ties
8. Bouquet Accented with Peacock Feathers  9. Hot Pinks and Purple  10. Groomsmen Attire

Wild & Wonderful Wheat: as seen on WV Wedding Blog

Original Post on WV Weddings Planners Palette

Fall is West Virginia is a bright, colorful, and an inspiring experience. The mountains look like glowing embers with colors ranging from pale yellow to deep reds and displays of every tone in between. And because those colors are so magnificent we often overlook the earthy and more subtle hues of fall. 

This inspiration board is inspired by the hues found at the bottom of the mountains, in the clearings where the sun perfected a golden and tan hue on the once green grass.

Wheat is a unique take on a fall theme, it certainly celebrates harvest, abundance, and wealth, but in a slightly less traditional manner. Dried wheat and grasses can be used for centerpieces, aisle decor, and even a modern bouquet. Sage, emerald, and dark brown are perfect accent colors to the golden wheat. 

Serve some good 'ol wheat beer and carmel apples and your Fall Wheat Theme will be hit with everyone.  

Sources:

1. Ceremony Decor   2. Fall Wedding   3. Dark Green Jim Hjelm Dress 

4. Wedding Dress with Sweater  5. Fabric Napkins   6. Bride & Bouquet 

7. Wheat Centerpiece  8. Wheat Bouquet   9. Wheat Invitation 10. Ceremony Aisle Decor

11. Eco Friendly Wedding Earrings from Wear Think Now 12. Wheat Table Decor

13. Table Inspiration  14. Place Setting  15. Carmel Apple Favors

The Radiance of a Sunflower Wedding

The Sunflower signifies the end of summer and start of fall in my mental calendar when I start seeing their bright and large blooms fill bouquets at the local farmers market. All though the flower is now widely available all year long the growing season is typically July to September in the US. If you are an eco-minded bride and want the shine of these flowers in your wedding consider timing your nuptials with the sunflower growing season. 

The Sunflower is a wonderful choice for a wedding flower and ultimately, a theme. Mini sunflower blooms range in width from 1.25 inches to 3.5 inches, while large sunflowers range from 3 to 5.75 inches. If you are looking for a dominate flower and are on a limited budget, consider the sunflower for it's strength, beauty, and of course relatively cheap price. Stems run from $3.50 down depending on how many you order (whole sale prices from Whole Blossoms 9/2011). The great thing about a large flower is that it takes less blooms to make a statement in a centerpiece or bouquet. 

Are you a DIY bride? Make sure that the sunflowers have plenty of water. The article titled "How to Arrange Sunflowers" gives some great tips on how to preserve cut sunflowers up to two weeks. http://www.ehow.com/how_5108149_arrange-sunflowers.html

My inspiration board takes advantage of the early fall season to incorporate the golden beauty of the sunflower with dark sage green, and brown accents. Sunflowers and barns go hand-in-hand in my head so a rustic, barn reception complete with tubs of beer gets the party started! 

Photo Sources

1. Sunflower Wedding Party

2. Rustic Barn Open Bar

3. Sunflower Bouquets with Twine

4. Sunflower Table Settings

5. Sunflower Cupcakes

6. Simple Sunflower Cake

7. Sunflower Bride's Bouquet

8. Moss Wedding Initials

9. Bridesmaid Attire

10. Sunflower Invitations

11. Sunflower Boutonniere 

12. Sunflower and Candle Centerpiece

13. Sunflower Place Card Decor

14. Sunflower Couple Photo

15. BBQ Buffet Line 

Late Summer Peach: as seen on WV Weddings Blog

Find this inspiration board at the WV Weddings Planners' Palette Blog 

Need a little wedding inspiration? Your simplest pleasures can be your greatest guide. This board of Peach, Orange, Pink, and Ivory was inspired by enjoying my mother's summer peach cobbler. 

The tastes, the colors, and the smell took me back to my years in West Virginia when September brings the end of  peach season and the Appalachians begin to change color. Thus the idea for  a peach inspired theme was born; one last hurrah for summer and a season opener for fall. 

Serving Bellini cocktails, peach tarts, and a peach inspired wedding cake create for a sweet start to a peach-themed wedding celebration. Bountiful crate centerpieces filled with peaches, orange spray roses, ivory garden roses, and  pink and deep orange dahlias accented by terra cota pots lend bright, rustic charm to each table setting. 

The gown is a throw back to a vintage era with a high lace neckline and belt, made modern by the addition of deep pockets and pleated ball gown. Dresses for the 'maids are a simple and flattering v-neck dress in hues of peach, pink, or light orange. 

Send guests home with market bags of local West Virginia peaches or homemade peach preserves . Yum!

Do you love peaches or perhaps you grew up with an apple orchard in your back yard? Whatever the passion or experience, think about what really pleases you and your significant other. Getting inspiration from your daily pleasures is a way to make your wedding a uniquely personal celebration that you and all your loved ones will never forget.  

Sources:

1. ETSY Necklace

2. Simple Invitation

3. Bouquet

4. Orange Spray Roses

5. Rings on Peaches

6. Peach Place Setting

7.  Flower Girl's Dress

8. Heart Shaped Cookies

9. Bellimi

10. Pretty Peach Heel

11. Peach Colored Rose Cake

12. Peach Crate Centerpiece

13. Peach Colored Bouquet 

14. Lace Detail Cakes

15. Vintage Wedding Dress

16. Bridesmaid Dress

17. Peach Cupcake

18. Peach Tart

19. Peach Accents

20. ETSY Peach Colored Rose Necklace

21. Groom's Attire

22. Peach Favors

Official Contributing Blogger for WV Weddings- First Post

I am supremely excited for my latest blogging adventure. I am a contributing blogger for the West Virginia Wedding Magazine's "Planners Palette". The inspiration board below is my first submission of many. 

West Virginia Late Summer Wedding Inspiration 

Cream, Dusty Rose, Sage, and Wheat

The thought of a late summer wedding in West Virginia brings images of heirloom treasures, family traditions, cool mountain breezes, and a celebration filled with the closest of friends and family. 

As summer comes to an end and gives way to cooler evenings and golden hues in the fields, celebrating outdoors will provide the perfect backdrop for an casual chic wedding. 

With a palette of cream, rose, sage, and wheat, your celebration expresses an air of country charm and understated elegance. 

Off-white and flowing the empire waist gown dances in the evening breeze. A light, effortless dress speaks to a bygone era but is made unique and modern by combining a mix of rose, cream, and ivory colors and figure-flattering styles among the ‘maids.

Bouquets and floral arrangements of antique hydrangeas and ranunculus, sage table linens, and burlap accents add the finishing touches to a simple, elegant celebration of love.  

Photo Sources:

1. Dresses

2. Table Setting

3. Invitations

4. Wreath

5. Belle Fluer Jewelry Necklace 

6. Bouquet

7. Sweet Pea Gown by Ivy & Aster

8. Cake

9. Bridesmaid Gown

10. Bride

11. Menu

12. Outdoor Ceremony Decor

13. Reception Décor

Ranch Inspired Lemon and Rose

A very good friend just got engaged and she wants to have a classy, country, farm affair in late summer. She mentioned hale bales, dahlias, milk bottles, mason jars, and the colors: green, pink, and yellow. This was my take on her ideas and I am sure I will have more ideas as her wishes evolve. 

Sources:

1. http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/blogs/whispering-pines-wedding/2488532-favorite-weddings-part-i

2. http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/blogs/whispering-pines-wedding/2488532-favorite-weddings-part-i

3. http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2010/05/06/real-weddings-melissa-kyle/bride-in-cowboy-boots-3/

4. http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/blogs/whispering-pines-wedding/2488532-favorite-weddings-part-i

5. http://blog.bridesmaid.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?blog_id=3&tag=wedding%20backdrop&limit=20

6. http://stevenbrucedesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-weddings.html

7. http://www.stylelist.com/gallery/inside-jenna-bushs-wedding/800051/

8. http://www.anthologieweddings.com/adrianne-smith-floral-design-at-the-leo-carillo-ranch/

9. http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/blogs/whispering-pines-wedding/2488532-favorite-weddings-part-i

10. http://www.bestshoppingcenter.net/weddings/search.php?q=category%3AWedding+Centerpieces%3A&page=5&sort=relevance

11. http://bakati.com/s~q-rose%20bridesmaid%20dresses.aspx12. http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/NPF8934.php

13. http://beautyinthemakingnews.blogspot.com/2010/11/wedding-trends-for-2011.html

14. http://media.photobucket.com/image/light%20pink%20dahlia/dieg01991/Plants/hollyhockLightPink7.jpg

15. http://www.chophotographyblog.com/2010/07/hofmann-ranch-wedding-castroville-photographers/

16. http://www.katiedisimone.com/blog/2009/06/wedding-melissa-and-anthony-santa-margarita-ranch.html

Rustic Pink and Brown August Wedding

Sources:

1 http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/12/01/real-weddings-cynthia-dustin/

2 http://kissthebrideguide.blogspot.com/

3 http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfzwe-iDXLhlT4PXqKaM2lsW_qsftzGERAc3gZwrwfMGwJeYkqECFHflSytVMbDDIV677_u4Gk_zWVVI3aAOu9w0Q-AXvqeMEBpjzXtfO6PVcSveihF_cKyMVYh4avtdU4G7B35OyLul5/s400/RusticPeachTart2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sarah-cooking.blogspot.com/2008/03/rustic-peach-tart.html&usg=__qCQOZl1c6-A2cRldo0iBduLcvdQ=&h=300&w=400&sz=42&hl=en&start=0&sig2=EUB9ZmXmHdHtJ9XMK2ATZg&tbnid=4kMw3EQQ0DtHtM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=163&ei=tyhmTM_XK5OisQOS1rCQDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drustic%2Bpeach%2Bwedding%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1309%26bih%3D769%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=780&vpy=457&dur=587&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=136&ty=122&oei=tyhmTM_XK5OisQOS1rCQDQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:0

4 http://trishadean.blogspot.com/2010/06/rustic-summer-berry-brights-pink-red.html

5 http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/12/01/real-weddings-cynthia-dustin/

6 http://ashleybaberweddings.blogspot.com/2010/06/qunnie-eric-on-style-me-pretty-and-in.html

7 http://ashleybaberweddings.blogspot.com/2010/06/qunnie-eric-on-style-me-pretty-and-in.html

8 http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/12/01/real-weddings-cynthia-dustin/

9 (3 photos) http://www.polkadotbride.com/index.php/2010/05/20/pink-and-chocolate-beach-wedding-celebration/