Country Twilight inspiration board

Be Bold, Be Beautiful - Be INDIE

In the last couple years, weddings have taken on a whole new approach from tradition to seek a hunger and thirst for bridal eye candy. I give applause to the bride who continues to break the barriers of design. She strives for originality and to tell a story throughout the woven day of bridal bliss. Words are strained in the thesaurus and across the web for images that tells us chic, indie, bohemian, mod, vintage, colorful, fresh, and girly. The bride who reaches to be uniquely different. 

So what could be more unique then an indie wedding gown? Your gown is your fingerprint on wedding history, you deserve a gown that not everyone else has. This has sparked my own curiosity in the search for independent designers.

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Out of all these, I felt most inspired by ouma. 

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If indie gowns simply don't met your fancy, here are some other bold beautiful brides to spark your creativity. Who says the gown must be white?
Be divine.

Photography, Simply Bloom Photography

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If you aren't interested in saving your gown for future use, take it underwater for a fanciful photoshoot.

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Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary. 

Cecil Beaton 

A Carter Baby-Shower for Shawntay

What a beautiful baby-shower this turned out to be! I felt so honored to assist in the planning of this special occasion to celebrate the coming arrival of a new baby girl. 

SHOP Etsy

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Scrumptious cupcakes from Toledo's Cake in a Cup were a picturesque centerpiece at the shower. Butterfly girls escorted and welcomed guests as they entered the party.

Shawntay herself arriving to her baby shower!

Cherry Coconut and Toffee Crunch - melt-in-your-mouth = yum!

Colorful chinese lanterns decked the hall hanging from softly glowing lanterns. 

Made by a guest, these delightful cake pops were literally the BEST cake pops I have ever tried! *****!

Guest enjoyed getting sugar-buzzed on sparkling strawberry lemonade! Who can resist pink?? 

Guests played multiple games and enjoyed engaging in conversations and making new friends!

Butterflies buzzed to bring Shawntay her baby gifts - such adorable little girl clothes! 

The party had not started until Shawntay's brother arrived! Full of animation and excitement! 

What a sweet brother to such a beautiful sister. 

 Shawntay and her oldest daughter.

At the end of the party, Shawntay and her family gathered around for a balloon release - giving baby "butterfly kisses."

One hot Mama!

~*~

October: "A few of my Favorite Things"

   These are a few of my favorite things...

   Have you caught the FEATHERfetish? I seem to see them everywhere nowadays and am completely addicted! They definitely accent a women's natural beauty; however, this only can be accomplished in the wisdom of choosing the correct color. What colors brings out your inward beauty?

 Are you Persuasively Eclectic?               or                 Dramatically Flamboyant?

  Naturally in one with Nature?               or                 A Classic Beauty?

Wickedly Devine?               or                 Sublimely Seraphic?

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SHOP BANDO

 These Heart Shoe Clips just make my heart flutter!

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SHOP BANDO

 I would have L.O.V.E.D. a BirchBox when I planned my own wedding. What a lovely idea, to try all the greatest in beauty for only $10 a month! If you are a bride or know someone getting married, this lovely "Here Comes the Bride" box (pictured to the right) is only $55 and would make an elegant gift!

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SHOP BirchBox

Another October favorite, is the flower girl tutu. Don't you just want to give her some love? This is a winner for some too-too cute pictures!

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SHOP Etsy

This concludes my blog post for a few of my favorite things, thank you for sharing the love!

Designs for Autumn

In fluent ink, I enjoy putting my thoughts onto paper; and with Autumn just around the bend, it's not quite so difficult to find inspiration. Feathers are so beautiful for this season, drawing us in with their breath of romance. I'm carried back to Paris in the 20's with this bouquet, with the glamour of crystal embellishments, the perfume of roses, and feathers that used to elaborate the beauty of women. 

Always be creative when adding your own personal touches to your wedding design. If you love something, go with your heart. 

Alice in Candyland

Get a sugar rush for this adorable Alice in Wonderland theme birthday! In my free time, I enjoy googling over cutsy ideas and found this first picture that inspired everything. I stitched together inspiration and ideas from other websites to complete a full concept for Alice in Candyland. 

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{Source and Purchase: Rompers & Balloons}

Musn't fall down the rabbit hole like Alice!

{Source and purchase: rose lights}

Have a hint of the Queen of Hearts with rose lights attached to your shrubs! 

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As a game, have the girls play a sporting game of Wonderland Croquet!

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What is any Wonderland party without Alice?? It brings back childhood memories of visiting the Magic Kingdom and having that magical moment of being noticed. Have Alice sign autographs or do face painting to interact during the party!

{Source and Purchase: Mad Hatter Hat}

Have each little girl receive a "Mad Hatter Headband" as a party favor when they enter the party!

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These invitations are come with sparkly Mad Hatter Paper hats attached. 

Every princess needs a chair. 

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Carter Baby Shower

One of my friends is expecting a little girl and I am thrilled to be planning her baby shower for this September! She loved the idea of the Carter Baby Shower theme, but of course I added a few creative tweaks to make it creatively her own. This will be her inspiration board:

A dessert table will be the centerpiece with adorable cake pops, irresistible cupcakes, and other yummy "sugar, spice, and everything nice" treats. Paper butterflies will glitter from the ceiling along with some fun balloons for brilliant backdrops. And... if I can find a vintage velvet chair for my girl, I think this shower would have the complete finishing touch. What an honor to welcome yet another beautiful baby girl into this world. ~

Rethink Balloons at the Wedding

 

I'll admit, my first impression of balloons mingling at weddings wasn't highly thought of, but when Martha Stewart's balloon issue first came out - I couldn't resist squealing, 

"Oh my gosh - how cuuuute!" 

Perhaps it's the colors or the bit of cheerfulness and fun they bring, either way I am officially infatuated with this whimsical idea! These balloons are simply delightful...

Picturesque! This idea was found in Martha Stewart's wedding magazine. 

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I love the versatility for any style. 

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Don't you just crave for more?! I am delighted that balloons have been reinvented in such a way so they can join the elegance of a wedding celebration. I look forward to seeing these at future events! ~

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon” - Winnie the Pooh

If you are interested in purchasing these for a wedding or other event, I have found excellent service through SWEET SHOP LULU.