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Rustic Wooden Cake Stand DIY Project

July 30, 2009 | editorial team

While visiting the lovely wedding blog Once Wed the other day (Hi Emily!) I ran across this sweet DIY project for a rustic wedding cake stand created by the uber-talented Laurie Cinotto of LaLaLaurie. Each stand is simply made from slices of tree trunks and branches and just couldn’t be a more charming addition to a whimsical, rustic themed wedding! Visit Once Wed for the full set of DIY instructions, and check out the inspiration boards below for beautiful wedding looks that these cake stands could fit right into.

DIY rustic wedding cake stand project from OnceWed.com

What Youll Need
A Cross-Cut Wood Plaque (round or oval)
A Cross-Section of a Tree Limb (Make sure the top and bottom are parallel)
Titebond Ultimate Wood Glue (or a similar extra strong wood glue)
A Large Wood Clamp 

Resources:
Cross-cut wood plaques can be found in your local craft store or online at Hofcraft. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. They are usually found in the section with the wood-burning kits and other wood crafts. They are clean, sanded and ready to use.

DIY rustic wedding cake stand project from OnceWed.com

 

This navy and cream colored fall wedding inspiration board was created for Junebug reader Sara, to help her come up with ideas for her rustic and elegant wedding taking place in a converted equestrian barn. I love the idea of adding in the organic tree cake stands to showcase the food that is so important to this couple, and to delicately contrast with all the sparkling glass and chandelier filled decor.

Navy and cream wedding color palette, rustic and elegant fall wedding inspiration board

Top row: Sara’s elegant strapless ivory satin and french lace overlay dress by Monique Lhuillier, Navy blue and white wedding cake by The Cake Girls, Cheese plate image by Matt Armendariz.

Second row: Vintage crystal chandeliers over a long wooden dinner table makes the all important 3 course dinner the focus of the celebration. Image by Thayer Allyson Gowdy via Oh How Charming, from the wedding of the lovely Elizabeth Messina.

Third row: Navy blue bridesmaid’s dresses and navy blue flower headband from JCrew.com, Vintage locket necklace from Vintage Rehab on Etsy.com, and fabulous orange Enzo Angiolini peep toe pumps for a splash of fall color.

Fourth row: Fall fruits are gorgeous as decor and combine beautifully with flowers, as in this flower, feather and fruit bridal bouquet by Hollyflora, and this centerpiece by Garden Party Flowers, photographed by Stephanie Cristalli.

Fifth and Sixth rows: Local, seasonal foods and wines are as beautiful to look at as they are to eat, so use them in your decor! Sara and her fiance have recently started making jam, so they will give away mini jars of their home made goodness as wedding favors. All images by the genius Matt Armendariz of MattBites.com.

Bottom row: Sara has begun collecting vintage blue ball jars to use as votive candle holders and to match her blue color palette and food theme. You can find these lovely blue jars all over the internet as well as at thrift stores and estate sales. Here, here, here and here are a few resources I found, as well as this cool DIY project from the Bridal Buzz Blog to easily make your own! So cool! Photos by Ali Harper on Etsy.com and MarthaStewart.com.

 

And the wooden cake stands would also look amazing alongside the elements in this board inspired by the Real Wedding of Lisa and Brent and their muted wedding color palette of pale blue, khaki and pink.

Rustic wedding inspiration board and pale blue, khaki and pink wedding color palette

Top row: Dress by Lela Rose, Downtown Seattle wedding venue Sodo Park by Herban Feast

Second row: Floral Whimsy invitation suite by Ephemera Custom Letterpress

Third row: Bambu disposable veneer ware from PlumParty.com, slate cheese board set from VivaTerra.com

Fourth row: Twig Organic cake stand from NeimanMarcus.com, white bouquet of spray and tea roses, lisianthius buds and flowers, ranunculus and velvet-stemmed tweedia from MarthaStewart.com

Fifth row: See by Chloé silk v-neck mini dress from Net-a-Porter.com, Babette jeweled feather peep-toe heels from JCrew.com, Queen Anne’s Lace silk lined clutch by La Vita Lola on Etsy.com

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Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

July 29, 2009 | editorial team

The newest issue of Seattle Bride magazine hit the newsstands recently and we love their creative take on the debate over professional vs. amateur wedding photography. As wedding photographers ourselves, it’s a subject near and dear to our hearts. We know the level of experience needed to successfully navigate the complexities of a wedding day, and we’ve heard endless stories from friends and wedding guests about the sadness that comes when a photographer doesn’t make that happen. Take a look at this excerpt and photo experiment from Seattle Bride magazine’s article, and see why we agree that if photos are important to you, hiring a wedding photography pro for your big day is a must!

The Pros of Hiring a Pro

Seattle Bride sent local writer and (semi) amateur photographer Cody Ellerd to shoot photos alongside a top wedding professional and set the record straight once and for all: Is it worth it to hire a friend or family member whos pretty good with a camera for your wedding?

By Cody Ellerd

I consider myself a pretty good amateur photographer. Ive taken a couple of classes, I have a nice Nikon D60 and, as a professional travel writer, Ive even had a few of my shots make magazine covers and pages. If you didnt budget for a professional photographer at your wedding, Im the friend you might call to take pictures.

So when Seattle Bride sent me to the late-winter wedding of Vicky Wu and Chris Nicoll to shoot alongside Joey Hong of John & Joseph Photography, a local award-winning team of two brothers who have been shooting commercial, fashion and wedding photography for more than eight years, I was curious to see how well I could keep up with a seasoned pro.

From the moment we started shooting in the bride and grooms hotel room, I was floored. Vicky, look down at your shouldersput a gentle smile on your lips. Chris, look straight at my lensno, smile. Relax your forehead. Joeys attention to such minute detail went way beyond Say cheese and brought out the couples absolute best. He knew how to manipulate the rooms light and reflective surfaces in ways I never would have dreamed of, transforming what I thought was an unremarkable setting into a photo studio with endless possibilities.

Wedding images by John and Joseph Photography and Cody Ellerd

“This image is so painfully inferior,” says our rogue photographer Cody Ellerd about her image (above). “My angle is bland while Joey’s is creative. His is crisp and perfectly exposed, while mine is washed out and grainy. Joey knew exactly how to take advantage of the sense of motion created by this cool backdrop.”

 

Wedding images by John and Joseph Photography and Cody Ellerd

This was such a cute moment, totally unscripted, Ellerd remembers. They bumped fists and it was clear it was a little habit of theirs, one that conveyed their friendship. Joey was right there to catch it while I was fumbling with my focus ring.

To read more of this story and see Cody’s and Joey’s side-by-side images, visit Seattlebridemag.com, and just for fun, here are a few more spectacular images from one of our favorite guys, Junebug member photographer Joey Hong of John and Joseph Photography

Images by Joey Hong of John and Joseph Photography. Seattle and international wedding photographer

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Shop Online Sample Sales with Gilt Groupe

July 28, 2009 | editorial team

If you lust for high end shopping as much as you do a good bargain (Did somebody say my name?) you don’t want to miss Gilt Groupe, the online sample sale website that offers designer collections at up to 70% off retail. Each sale lasts 36 hours, is accessible by invitation only, and features hand selected styles from a single designer. For instance, today’s sales include Zac Posen, Helmut Lang, Warren Tricomi beauty products and Kiki de Montparnasse (including some of the incredible pieces from our recent lingerie Fashion Report!) To get involved and find wedding fashion possibilities galore for you, your bridesmaids and your gorgeous groom, use this invitation link and sign yourself up. You never know what sample sale might be next!

Zac Posen, Helmut Lang and Kiki de Montparnasse online sample sales at Gilt Groupe, www.gilt.com

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