WEDDING BLOG

Looking at all the wedding dresses from the spring 2008 bridal collections, I got giddy with inspiration! What beautiful choices there are for every bride-to-be! Here are three of my favorites and the colors palettes, themes and accessories they inspired…

A Green Spring Garden Party
Wedding dress by Oscar de la Renta, sweet pea and orchid cake from MarthaStewart.com, green bridesmaid’s dress by Reem Acra, Pedro Garcia satin peep-toe pumps from Saks.

A Rich Red Affair, Bursting with Berries and Flowers
Wedding dress by Reem Acra, pink snowberry bouquet and strawberry meringue butter cream cupcake from MarthaStewart.com, “Dahlia” invitation by Ephemera Custom Letterpress, Valentino Laminated Leather Bow Clutch from Neiman Marcus.

A Sparkling Blue and White Cocktail Party
Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier, Adriana Orsini crystal/zirconia earrings from Saks, Tom Binns Swarovski crystal embellished cuff from Net-a-Porter.com, “Wisteria Vine” linen wrap from AccessoriesLab.com, blue satin Dorian heel by Brian Atwood, navy damask fabric from Waverly.

The always talented and creative Matthew Mead just launched his 2007 Holiday website issue and it is simply gorgeous! I was so inspired by his use of purple for the holidays that I made a color palette inspiration board full of images from his site. The combination of all the rich shades of purple, from deep eggplant to dusty lilac, along with rustic reds, greens, grays and metallics makes for a lush, organic and sophisticated look. What a fabulous winter wedding this would be!

Top row left to right:
Purple glass vases at MatthewMeadStyle.com
Spring 2008 Monique Lhuillier wedding dress at Brides.com
Gingham-veined Vanda orchids and privet berry bouquet at Brides.com

Second row left to right:
Purple ribbon monogrammed grooms cakes at MarthaStewart.com
Holiday paper from MatthewMeadStyle.com
Chiffon dress with floral appliqué from VeraWang.com

Third row left to right:
Holiday decorations and centerpieces from MatthewMeadStyle.com 

Bottom row left to right:
Pura Lopez ‘L229’ pump from Nordstrom.com
Crystal napkin rings form MatthewMeadStyle.com
Marie-Helene de Taillac amethyst ring from TwistOnline.com

Cute as a button? There’s a reason that saying rings true! There is something undeniably sweet and endearing about buttons, why not add a little of their charm to your wedding theme?

You could incorporate buttons into your wedding cake design, or add them as embellishments to your bouquet…
(Cakes from Brides.com, bouquets from MarthaStewart.com)

You could decorate your favor boxes with buttons or give away button soaps, button magnets, or little button sachets to your guests as wedding favors…
(Soaps and sachets from WhiteAisle.com, DIY button magnets and box decoration idea from MarthaStewart.com)

You could do some DIY projects with vintage buttons like making cuff links or boutonnières for your groomsmen, napkin rings for your table setting, stamps to decorate your paper products, or embellishments to a sash or hair ribbon for your flower girl. Check out sites like Etsy.com to find supplies of pretty vintage buttons.
(All DIY projects from MarthStewart.com)

And you could give these pretty silver and vintage button rings and bracelets to your bridesmaids as unique and thoughtful thank you gifts.
(Available at Lotus Jewely Studio on Etsy.com)

What are your button ideas?