Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Floral

Cherries Flowers

I love these Spring days with warm sun pouring through the windows, birds chirping, thoughts of easy, breezy days, and, of course, wedding season. It’s the beginning of a time so romantic and wistful. That’s precisely why San Francisco-based, Cherries Flowers, had me from the get go with their enchanting and artistic floral designs. At once refined and unaffected, their designs have an elegant yet sweetly approachable quality. One look through their portfolios and you’ll see that they’re not afraid of a little whimsy either. And, that combination is just the ticket for my kind of wedding.

Princess Lasertron Felt Bridal Accessories

I have seen a lot of bouquets in a lot of different styles, but never have I stumbled upon the likes of Princess Lasertron‘s fun and festive offerings! Megan Hunt, the creative mastermind behind Princess Lasertron, has been busting out her bouquets and bridal accessories since 2005 using felt, vintage buttons, and other ephemera. From bouquets to hairpieces and brooches to gowns, even DIY craft kits, Megan and her team will see to it that you have a customized heirloom piece to enjoy on your special day and for years to come. And, like the name of her business, these cute beauties are anything but ordinary!

A bunch of bridesmaid bouquets.

These pins could make for fun bridesmaid accessories or even cute boutonnieres for some “good sports” groomsmen.

How sweet would this style of bouquet be for a junior bridesmaid? Okay, really ‘junior’ but still!

Even boutonnieres…

Twig & Twine Floral Design

Years ago I worked at a floral design studio. Fun stuff, right? Um, not exactly. It was more like getting up at 3AM to walk through a freezing cold flower market, loading heaps of flowers into a van, and then, while half-asleep, taking out my knife to cut stems (and fingers), strip thorns, and prep said flowers for the cooler. Why am I sharing with you this harrowing tale? Because after that experience I came to understand (most profoundly) just how hard florists have to work to bring their visions to light. If there were a national “Hug Your Florist Day”, I’d be an active participant!

That is why these stunning designs created by Heather at Twig & Twine in Los Angeles send me swooning even more. Her style is at once both refined and slightly wild and whimsical. The way she intermingles unique elements like unusual greenery and even berries into her arrangements adds…

Etsy Round-Up: Rustic Wedding Touches with Burlap

Burlap Wine Bottle Bag Table Numbers

Given the continuing trend of all things vintage with today’s wedding stylings, burlap is a perfect choice for adding a charmingly rustic touch. Fortunately, there are a ton of ways to add a little homespun feel from invitations to the final farewell of “Just Married” on the back of the car. And, yes, everything else in between. Hope you enjoy some of our favorites found on Etsy!

Rustic Barn Burlap Wedding Invitations with Tag

Wedding Ring Bearer Pillow

Burlap Mr. & Mrs. Signs

Monogram Burlap Beverage Bucket

Burlap Birds with Read Heart Wedding Cake Topper

Burlap Floral Candle Holders Set

Custom Wedding Jam Favors

Burlap “Just Married” Bunting Banner

DIY Project: Wildflower Bouquets from Chelsea at Frolic

Mini Wildflower Bouquets

These sweet little bouquets are perfect for flower girls, mothers, grandmothers, or bridesmaids. Leave them rustic as shown, or add a ribbon to dress them up! Total cost is around $8 per bouquet.

Supplies:

twine

ribbon (if you wish)

scissors

clippers

vases and buckets to keep the flowers and bouquets in

Flower Recipe:

10 stems of waxflower (can be detached from 3 larger stems)

3 ranunculus

2 “Green Trick” dianthus.

Steps:

1. Start with a few stems of the waxflower, and add the largest ranunculus towards the bottom.

2. Add the other flowers a stem at a time, turning the bouquet to the right, each time you add a stem.

3. Add smaller ranunculus or buds at the top.

4. Secure with twine!

Tips:

Keep in water until use!

Buy it:

Any of the florists in the mywedding.com directory can help you!

Oh,…

Handmade Paper Florals from Dragonfly Expression

Years ago, I saw a wedding featured on television where the bride had an art background and used paper as a primary element in her work. So, when planning her wedding, she decided to incorporate her love of paper throughout the ceremony. From her bouquet, to the centerpieces, to decor, she had everything festooned with her paper creations. It was amazing and I thought, “That’s something I would love to have!”

Well, flash forward to me making handmade Japanese paddle fan programs for a friend’s wedding that reduced me to tears in the process and left me with permanent scars on my hands and my DIY dream went out the door! (Although, the programs did turn out beautifully if I do say so myself.) Fortunately, there are talented people like Chantal of Dragonfly Expression to help with such a handmade vision without the DIY disasters.

With customized styles and colors,…

DIY Idea: Winter Wedding Bouquet from Chelsea at Frolic

Fragrant Winter Bouquet

Consider making this romantic, fragrant bouquet for a winter wedding. It’s pretty easy to make (even with no floral experience!) and the cost comes in around $45.

Flower recipe:

8 purple ranunculus (some buds and some open)

3 white ranunculus (some buds and some open)

3 white hyacinth in full bloom

3 stems of greenery( jasmine or salal will work)

8 stems of vining jasmine

2 stems of snowdrops

Supplies:

scissors

clippers

ribbon

vase

water

buckets

twine

vase

water

buckets

Steps:

1. Clean off the leaves from the bottom half of the stems.

2. Soak the flowers in water overnight or at least for a few hours before making your bouquet. Cold water works great for flowers like hyacinth or other bulbs.

3. Make sure you use clean clipper and buckets.

4. When ready to make your bouquet, take one stem of hyacinth, and two ranunculus…

Inspiration Board: Gorgeous Succulents

My love for succulents started a few years ago when I realized, after managing to drown several hundred dollars worth of houseplants, that my mother’s green thumb had skipped a generation. Fortunately, my local nursery turned me on to succulents which are beautiful, interesting, and most importantly, nearly impossible to kill.

Imagine my delight when I started seeing them become the new “it” plant to incorporate into bouquets, arrangements, and DIY-inspired potted plant place cards! Succulents provide the perfect juxtaposition to more delicate and frilly flowers, while still keeping the look feminine and summery. And for grooms looking for a less traditional boutonniere (but not willing to go the skull and crossbones route), succulents are a super cool alternative.

Photo Credits:

Centerpiece (top left): Jose Villa Photography
Potted plant (top center): Design Sponge
Place cards (top right): The Sweetest Occasion
Centerpiece (bottom…

Top Wedding Trends: What to Expect in 2012

2012 will be a very interesting (and super gorgeous) year for weddings. We expect to see big glam, thoughtful themes, and lots of attention to detail.

Last year’s royal wedding absolutely influenced wedding dress trends. Thanks to Kate’s long lace sleeves, we will be seeing a greater variety of different necklines and sleeve lengths. Strapless gowns will take a back seat to one shoulder, illusion necklines, cap sleeves, and deep v necks. Dresses will be much more romantic and elegant than last year. This doesn’t mean that traditional “princess” gowns should be expected. Some will be long, fitted and sleek. Others will be in pale colors such as blush.

Above all, expect more glamour. For several years, we have seen a trend towards simple and in 2012 we will start to move away from that. From sparkly accents to faux fur shrugs, weddings will look more expensive and have…