Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Posts tagged Anne Sage

Inspiration Board: 50s Sleepover Style Shower from the City Sage

50′s Sleepover Style: It doesn’t get better than an indulgent girly overnight with your best gals. Decorate cupcakes, give each other makeovers, and watch movie musicals that everyone can sing along to. pink-retro-1950s-inspiration-board-bridal-shower-cupcakes-edit

What to Wear: Playful polka dots or ladylike silk flowers get the Sandra Dee stamp of approval. Offset the sweetness of these dress silhouettes with sassy saddle shoes and cat eye sunglasses. pink-retro-1950s-inspiration-board-bridal-shower-cupcakes-2

Complete the Look: Sparkly pinatas from Confetti System and a palette of powder pink, mint and black feel straight from the dance-a-thon at Rydell High. Inexpensive favors like flavored lipgloss and a snappy coin purse will be a welcome take-home after a night of sugar highs. pink-retro-1950s-inspiration-board-bridal-shower-cupcakes-3

Shopping Guide, Fashion: Pink Dress, Nail Polish, Ring, Earrings, Beauty Kit, Saddle Shoes, Sunglasses, Purse, Hair Flower, Polka Dot Dress.
Accessories: Fiestaware, Cake Stand, Polka Dot Napkins, Cupcake Wrappers, Cupcake Kit, 50′s Invitation, Pinatas, 50′s Records, Cupcake Journal, Coin Purse, Grease DVD, Hair Bows, LipSmackers, Mint Julep Mask.
Image Credits: 1. Craig Sanders 2. Lola’s Room 3. Marianne Taylor 4, 5. Scott Clark 6. Lola’s Room 7. Jose Lasheras 8. The Well Dressed Home 9. David Newkirk

Anne and Mathias’ Timeless San Francisco Wedding

We’ve all witnessed Anne of the City Sage’s impeccable taste over on her blog and in her guest posts for us, but to see it play out in real life, in her wedding no less, is really quite special. Because she does have great taste – the muted palette she chose that pops with purple every now and again, the tight bunches of elegant flowers, her stunning veil, they all lend an air of nostalgic elegance to her day.

And her photos really do look timeless, don’t they? I feel like years from now people will look at these photos and think, “Man, I wish we knew how to dress like that still.”

Huge thanks to Anne and her photographer Anna Kilbridge for sharing the photos. Be sure to keep reading below to hear Anne’s thoughts on the day.

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Anne’s Thoughts:

I planned and executed the wedding myself—with the help of a small roster of talented vendors, of course! Everything—from the floral arrangements housed in my grandmother’s heirloom silver, to the homemade brownies and blondies that the guests received as favours— came together to create the singular vision that my husband and I shared of our wedding: a vision of style and spontaneity, polish and play, a vision that mirrors the reverent yet lighthearted outlook with which we now approach our marriage.

Our wedding day took us from a morning ceremony at the oldest Episcopal church on the Pacific coast, to a pancake breakfast at San Francisco’s celebrated Sear’s Diner, to a formal candlelit reception in the Sonoma valley—with a detour to a 19th century fort at the base of the Golden Gate bridge! We were blessed to celebrate our marriage with friends and family who traveled from as far as Canada, England, Sweden and Australia.

Of course no wedding is without snags, and ours was no exception. I do not recommend moving from New York to San Francisco and getting married in the same two week period, especially when you are handling all of the wedding details yourself! But we have happily settled into our new home and our new life—-and we feel so grateful for each and every wedding memory.

Vendors:

Bride’s Gown: Reem Acra
Bride’s Shoes: Prada
Groom’s Suit and Shoes: John Varvatos
Bridesmaid’s Gowns: Jenny Yoo
Photographer: Anna Kilbridge
Florist: Karen Axel of Tapestry Flowers
Ceremony: Trinity Episcopal Church
Reception: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn

Inspiration Board: Dress to Reception Décor

We’ve all heard the advice: tailor your choice in wedding gown to the type of event you’re having. But why not switch it up and take inspiration from your bridal fashion when planning reception details? A sweet, simple strapless number sets the mood perfectly for a rustic twilight dinner lit by Edison bulbs.

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The unabashedly girly bodice on this dress begs for similarly playful decor. A muted, natural palette lets the whimsical sensibility shine through, and a butterfly’s wings even reflect the pleated collar of the gown.
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Long sleeves, antiqued lace, and a flower circlet: this look reminds me of my mother’s 70′s style in the best possible way. A mix of dried and live flowers in mountain meadow hues completes the romantic hippie vibe. dress-to-decor-inspiration-3

A short and drapey dress suggests a casual daytime affair. Florals in bright primary colors and milkglass vases have a cheerful–almost retro–effect in keeping with the outfit’s vintage appeal. dress-to-decor-inspiration-4

Make an elegant statement in a grand ballgown, and complement it with an equally erudite book motif. If you’re really nerdy detail-oriented like me, you could get excited about how the spines of the books echo the wavy ruffles of the skirt. dress-to-decor-inspiration-5

Finally, summon a little country sass with a snug mini dress, then soften the effect by setting the table with calico and ceramics. It’s part honkytonk, part Sunday at Granny’s, and 100% adorable dress-to-decor-inspiration-6

Image Credits: 1. Keefer Photography 2. Jose Villa for Once Wed 3. Jagger Photography 4. Merci New York 5. Heather Curiel Weddings 6. Clayton Austin via Green Wedding Shoes 7. Shelly Kroeger 8. Jose Villa 9. Olivia Leigh 10. Jessica Claire for Honey and Poppies 11. Trent Bailey 12. Beth Helmstetter Events via Style Me Pretty

Anne blogs about beautiful things over on The City Sage.

Bridal Shower Inspiration Board: Picnic in the Shade

The City Sage is an absolute visual feast. Anne (the mastermind behind the blog) hunts down the beautiful, the inspiring and the just plain cool and then packages them into breathtaking inspiration boards, several times a day. She’s also in the process of launching a new online magazine, Rue, dedicated to ideas for stylish living. Basically, Anne is your new, uber-hip friend whose advice you should totally listen to…

Just Add Lemonade: For bridal shower inspiration, look no further than the nearest park. An open air outing promises girls-only fun and frivolity; with breezy groves or sun-dappled fields, nature takes care of the decor! Go beyond the typical picnic palette of red and white – try hues like poppy, sky, and tangerine for a retro bohemian vibe.

picnic-bridal-shower-fashion-wedding-inspiration-board What to Wear: Sport traditional textiles with a twist. Buttery soft gingham feels feminine when paired with an A-line skirt, while a playful sundress gives June blossoms a run for their money. Channel summer with accessories in linen, straw and silk, and don’t forget a vibrant mani-pedi in this season’s cheerful shades!

picnic-bridal-shower-decor-wedding-inspiration-board Complete the Look: Bring the sitting room outdoors with a bevy of cozy blankets and throw pillows. Pack a picnic basket full of mix-n-match tableware to complement your palette, and incorporate unexpected elements like vintage suitcases for an extra touch of whimsy. Favor ideas include bargain hairbands (this one is only $2.50!) or your favorite soap wrapped in inexpensive fabric. Let’s just hope this bridal picnic is host to more aunts than ants!