“Zong Her of Her Couture was so amazing and provided gorgeous veils, amazing flowers, and got me in touch with Dianne’s Delights in Seattle who provided the seriously adorable cream colored ruffed cake, complete with a burlap banner style cake topper. The “dream team” as I call them were fabulous! I collected all the fun vintage pieces from the Old Main Street Spanaway Antique Mall and all the unique wood pieces, including the chevron cake plate were make by a local wood shop called “from the wood shed” in Spanaway.  Let me say that the weather for our shoot was total CHAOS! It was sunshine, then pouring rain! Then, we decided to head up to Summit at Steven’s Pass for an insanely gorgeous snowfall! It was DOWNPOURING snow! Dyan and Daniel were complete troopers and totally rocked the shoot! The weather was typical of Washington, and I loved every bit of it! I’m so over-the-moon in love with images and can’t wait to share them!”

Vendor Love

Venue: Family Cabin in Skykomish | Dress Boutique: David’s Bridal | Men’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse | Bakery: Dianne’s Delights | Handmade Goods Designer: Her Couture, From The Wood Shed | Photographer: Amanda Lloyd Photography

Vendor Love

Venue: Manor House Photography Studio | Photographer: Charlene Morton Photography

I am feeling a bit Marie Antoinette this morning, so cake we shall have!  I am not even going to be bashful about it, I have a ridiculous sweet tooth so when it comes time for cake tastings, desserts, or the not so occasional cupcake craving…..well… just steer clear of me, that’s all I am going to say!  But in all seriousness, sweets are such a wonderful part of the wedding process and a truly epic place for design!

For today’s WIWW feature, I have chosen a Great Gatsby {might as well embrace the current trend!} inspired cake that comes to us from SBW friend, Style Unveiled.  Now if you don’t already know of her {I find this pretty much impossible!} most certainly carve out some time in the very near future to get to know her and her delicious site which is filled with tremendous amounts of pretty, inspiration, and everything in between.  Everything she selects to feature is beautifully styled & perfectly on trend.  You’re welcome ahead of time!

Ok so back to our Gatsby cake.  To view Styled Unveiled’s sneak peek post on the cake,  Click Here and for the full write up on the Gatsby inspired wedding, Click Here.  What makes this gorgeous cake work so well, isn’t as much about texture {though always a key player!}, color & a beautiful mix of media, but design itself.  Specifically how Paola Cake Atelier was able to whip literal art deco design elements into cake form.  The overall effect is a stunning art deco cake that is perfectly on trend with the roaring 20′s!

 *Photograph by Jamilah Photography

There are two major attention grabbing elements at play here, both of which echo that of art deco design.  Working from the bottom up, our base layer is given the rhinestone chevron treatment in impressive symmetry relaying a very classic art deco design from back in the day.  The sharp lines & crisp angles are very much inline with the elements used in the 1920′s,  often immortalized in the florish of buildings created around that time.  It is a hallmark of the art deco era and an unmistakable fingerprint.  Whether these sparkling gems are edible or not, I can not say, but if I know my bakers, these crafty wizards can make just about anything edible, so my money is on yes!

The show piece layer of the cake is indeed a stunner, playing handily into a look often seen in the brooch headpiece many flappers would wear in the roaring 20′s.  Perfectly designed & expertly made, this band layer utilizes not only fondant carving to mimic fabric but hand crafted detailing that, piece by piece, assembles into that of an art deco brooch.  Ovals, tear drops, even more rhinestones come together to create a show piece element that is a gorgeous piece of jewelry all its own.

When viewed together, these two layers resemble that of an outfit a flapper may wear, a sequined chevron dress with jeweled headpiece, dont you think!?  The overall design is terribly clever and I would be remiss if I did not point out that the finishing elements of the softly beaded pearl dots & simple 2 row rhinestone base layer are the the perfect accoutrements to such terrific design work.  Poignant and beautifully understated exactly as they ought to be.  Likewise the choice of cake stand is incredibly brilliant, here again, echoing the art deco style.

I really encourage you to head over to check out Style Unveiled’s Full Post on their Gatsby Inspired Wedding.  There are so many terrific elements that your  little fingers are going to get tired from all the pinning!  So do tell me, which are your favorite elements of this beautiful cake?  Are you a chevron fan or do you fancy more complex patterns?  Gatsby certainly has a strong hold on design at the moment, are you a fan of all things Great and Gatsby like?!

Vendor Love

Wedding Cake: Paola Cake Atelier | Venue: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens | Photographer: Jamilah Photography

Vendor Love

Florist: Valle Wholesale Flowers | Makeup Artist: Flawless Team | Photographer: Lucy Munoz Photography

So which look is your favorite?  Do you lean more toward the softer feminine & romantic style or are you as in love as I am with the bold black lace look?  The mystery in the black lace veil is simply beyond with such an intense sense of sophistication don’t you think?  What are some of your more fashion forward bridal looks, I’d love to hear!

Vendor Love

Corset: Fredrick’s of Hollywood | Pink Gown: H&M | Floral Fascinator & Black Veil: Meo Baaklini | Hair & Make-up: Meo Baaklini | Photographer: Meo Baaklini

What Storyboard Likes…

Black, White & Brown All Over-  Black & white weddings are wedding palette classic that in recent years has taken more of a main stage notice.  While I love the idea, I often find it can get boring becoming a repeat offender.  However, in the right hands, an artful design eye, the possibilities are limitless!  What I am completely in love with regarding this lil black & white wedding is the introduction of brown, be it in the from of strong organic wood, or in softened brushed golds.  Black & White is still clearly the star of the day, but with the compliments of a much strong supporting cast, the overall feel is softer & more lovely to look at.  The choice of the wood table & gold rimmed heirloom china {supplied by Rosann Konieczny, the calligrapher!} was superb & serve as the perfect accompaniment.  I would love to see more black and white weddings with dash of something extra sprinkled in there.  Its a lovely next step in the evolution of this classic color palette!

Mary Poppins Is Jealous- Let’s just say it now, how amazing are those umbrella centerpiece lights?!?!?!  And they light up for crying out loud!!  There certainly is no shortage of whimsy to this beautifully styled session, with the umbrellas serving as a stunning focal point.  Diane, owner of The Vintage Type, painted the umbrella ceilings with gold spray paint, punched holes with grommets and threaded through a cord with a bare Edison bulb. Believe it or not, these amazing umbrellas are rent-able!  I think if I could tolerate seeing an open umbrella in my life everyday, I would totally need these for my house!!

Industrial Spaces- In general I have a huge crush on just about anything rustic industrial, however when it comes to weddings, for me, it ups the ante!  Raw spaces are so unique but with such a blank canvas in the wrong hands, they can become terribly underwhelming.  As a venue industrial spaces are truly phenomenal and can take on a decor life of their own.  Tall ceilings, exposed beautifully blemished brick, weathered wood, you name, each of those gorgeous elements lend themselves perfectly to inspiring the elements you can use to craft your day.  If you allow it, the room can help you choose the right table, the perfect chairs, the overall vibe & feel.  Another wonderful thing about having your fete in a space of this nature…. the color palette options are literally limitless!!  For those of you looking to completely break the model, run as far away from cookie cutter as one can, I highly suggest checking out industrial venues in your area and I certainly suggest teaming up with a stellar design team that can truly get such an amazing space to really sing!!

Vendor Love

Gowns: Lula Kate, Courtesy of Bella Bridesmaid | Veil: Something Borrowed Bride | Hair & Makeup: Julie Swenson Beauty,KMT Beauty, Melanie Rivers Beauty | Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny, Calligrapher | Graphic Design: The Vintage Type | Floral Design: Zook Floral Design | Vintage Rentals: The Vintage Type | Styling & Coordination: Girl Friday, The Vintage Type | Photographer: Zlata Modeen Photography

From the looks of things on Pinterest of late, there is a serious sugar craving going on for ceremony backdrops that defy traditional setups in place of the more unique, creative & awe inspiring.  Personally I adore the idea of not just unique ceremony locations but an intriguing collection of elements to craft your very own signature look.  I really feel that creativity in weddings is reaching a gorgeous design crescendo of late with seemingly nothing off limits.  Vintage doors, window frames, books, lanterns, bicycles, ribbon, garlands, pinwheels, you name it, are just a few elements that have taken to decorating the ‘I do’ spot these days.  I wish this was something that was making such waves only a few short years ago, as I certainly would have loved to have gone this route myself!

Such wonderfully creative and at times innovative ceremony backdrops are the subject of this weeks Why It Works Wednesday!  I recently spotted a gorgeous gem of a backdrop on Ruffled {Which I realize last week’s WIWW also came from Ruffled!}, photographed by the amazing One Love Photo, with a strong bohemian vibe to the set up.  There are so many absolutely terrific elements to this ceremony spot, I am super eager to jump into things and bring to life why this wondrous installation works so well!  Let’s get to it shall we!

 *Photograph by One Love Photo

Sorry for the giganto photo, but I felt it was really important to view this suspended picture frame backdrop in its full glory, as large as the site will allow, so that you can properly take in the full effect!  Upon first glance it may seem like a very busy backdrop {this is not always a negative!} in truth there really are only 3 pure elements being played with here: picture frames, floral arrangements & string.  The first that we will discuss, and most certainly the focal point of the design are the frames.  Keeping with the current trend in weddings to mix-match, each frame is uniquely its own, with none repeating.  The key here is to pick small details that relate them to each other well enough to present a harmonious aesthetic overall.  Be it a style of craving, a detail within the pattern itself you name it. While design elements are indeed a part of why each frame was chosen, if you look back at the set up again, you’ll notice that each frame’s color is a beautiful tone, which also compliments its nearest neighbor.  Last but not least, to keep the flow of the design, each frame is its own size while the shape is kept the same, again an element that ties them together in their uniqueness.  Varying the frame’s in the size department keeps it fresh and interesting, each with its own reason to be looked at.

Each frame comes with its very own slightly mix-matched floral arrangement, each pinned on a different corner of the frame.  Here again repeaters, while unavoidable all together with only 4 corners to choose from, were kept to a minimum, keeping the visual as interesting as possible.  The blooms themselves are bold colors in striking orange, loud fuchsia, & pale purple.  These color demanding focal pieces stand out strongly against the darker wood and deep green of the surrounding area.  Notice how each arrangement as well, contains leafy stringy greens which serve to make each arrangement more abstract and unusual.  This design serves to connect with a more organic feel, how one could imagine they might be found in nature, as well as supplying a lovely air of whimsy!

The last element to the design is perhaps my favorite!  I am utterly in love how the strings were treated as a piece of the design versus something to be hidden and tucked away.  The beauty of the stringing job in this case is the angle at which they were hung.  Rather then boring ol’straight up stringing, each was tied closer together then the width of the frame creating an intricate lattice work in the open air above the frames.  The overall effect is something that is playful, light and airy.

I adore this backdrop and personally feel that even though it might feel very bohemian, in my opinion it easily translates to just about every wedding genre & theme.  The basic principles of great design, organic goodness & whimsy will carry over beautifully no matter what!  I highly encourage you to head over to Ruffled to view the full post on this wedding, as there are lots of lovely little elements of this wedding to enjoy!

Wedding Location: Seattle, WA / Wedding Photographer: one love photo / Venue: Robinswood House / Wedding Flowers: Ravenna Blooms / Wedding Dress: Milly from Nordstrom Wedding Suite / Bride’s Shoes:Joan and David / Hair and Makeup: Off White / Hair Accessory: Bride’s mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses:Nordstrom / Groom’s Apparel: Tux Shop / Wedding Caterer: 12 Baskets Catering / Cake and Desserts: The Sweet Side Cake and Pies Alamode / Music: Sonny Byers and Jazz Trio (friend of Bride) / Wedding Favors:JonBoy Caramels

Vendor Love

Dress: Allure – Bridals by Jodi| Table Decor : Sugar and Spice Photography & ModMoxieStudios
Photographer: Sugar and Spice Photography and Design Studio & Tracy Kin of TDK Photography

Bridal fashion is an awesome beast.  As our eyes are only directed to the bridal world for a very short period of time {from our engagement to our wedding} in our lives, we don’t often see the evolution of style within bridal as seamlessly as we do with day to day wear.  Believe it or not, crafting the complete wedding day look these days is perhaps one of the more powerful forms of expression out there.  There are such a wonderfully delicious range of accessories to compliment the vast selection of gowns these days, everything to allow you to take on the perfect persona that you are aiming for.  Today’s styled bridal shoot is an absolutely wonderful example of how one gown can flawlessly become three unique personas, all equally feminine & powerful.  There is the softer, floral, more bohemian side complete with stunning crown made of choice blooms.  Next up is the gal that wants to honor tradition yet craves a more sophisticated fashion forward touch in the form of a veil come bridal headscarf.  The third and final look is that of refinement & class with all the modern touches of current fashion with the slightest nod to old school Mad Men fashion luxury.  Fashion is a tremendous expression of oneself and your wedding day should be no exception to this, in fact it should be the perfect highlight to all you love!

A Word From Damaris Mia at Le Magnifique about the shoot …

“The wedding gown was a Kitty Chen Couture gown (style: Ruby) from Mary Me Bridal in Orange and it was just breathtaking. If you love lace, you’ll love this gown. Delicate embellishments covered the gown from top to bottom. The gown even had a detachable bolero that featured buttons in the back that gave the gown such an elegant look. The girls over at Mary Me Bridal are just the sweetest! The veils were created by the very talented Kathy Banner of Veiled Beauty who after seeing my inspiration board for the shoot decided to create brand new veils that would reflect the vision I had in mind for the shoot. The veils alone made me want to have another wedding for myself! Nicole at Bella Bloom Floral Design created such a beautiful and romantic bouquet and floral headpiece. Nicole always does such a beautiful job with floral design! Jen Simpson from Jen Simpson Design created such sweet invitations. Nina from The Rico Collectivedid a phenomenal job with hair & make-up. Better than I could have imagined! Alycia and her mom, Mychele, from Timeless Love Events brought the most amazing settee I ever did see! And the chandeliers? They brought those too! They actually made the chandelier with the cage and lace for the shoot! And the jewelry? Swoon. They brought those too. Last but not least, Valentina of Valentina Glidden Photography did an amazing job photographing this entire shoot. Valentina is always such a pleasure to work with! The shoot turned out better than I had imagined and am so grateful to have worked with such talented people!”

Vendor Love

Photography: Valentina Glidden Photography | Flowers: Bella Bloom Floral Design | Invitations: Jen Simpson Design | Shoes: Nine West  | Dress: Kitty Chen Couture | Bridal Boutique: Mary Me Bridal  | Furniture Rentals: Timeless Love Events | Jewelry: Trigger Jewelry | Hair & Make-up: The Rico Collective | Veils: Veiled Beauty | Shoot Coordinator & Creative Director: Damaris Mia at Le Magnifique

SBW Ps- How brilliant is the idea of using a crotchet hook to help button all those beautiful studs that often run down gowns?!  Take note my future brides!

SBW Pps- I am sorry, but how incredibly cute {albeit maybe a lil wrong, hehe} is the shot of the lil man, draped in Mardi Gras beads, sippin from his bottle!?  I mean, seriously!!!

Novella of the Bride…

We met in Boston at a Kentucky Derby party. Michael jokes that he knew I was the girl for him when I laughed at his “as much use as tits on a bull” joke. I loved the fact that our first discussion was an argument over the number of laps the horses run in the Derby–and I won! After that – we pretty much became inseparable. Our favorite spot in Boston quickly became Fenway Park, watching the Red Sox play. Fast forward a few years, we moved to California for a change of scenery. On a trip back to Boston, Michael snuck me onto the field at Fenway to propose….an unbelievable feat that most Red Sox fans will never get to experience!

Picking the location for the wedding was easy – our favorite city – New Orleans. We wanted the wedding to be about us, in a place that we love.  And what better excuse do we need to visit in the future? After that, the pieces just fell into place…a gorgeous courtyard for the ceremony, our favorite bar for the reception, and an AMAZING second line. It was the perfect New Orleans wedding that we both wanted–a truly unforgettable day.

Vendor Love

Ceremony Venue: Place d’Armes| Reception Venue: Pat O’Briens | Makeup Artist: Flawless Bride | Officiant: Fig Street Weddings| Band: Kinfolk Brass Band | Floral Designer: Chloe Ann Designs | Cake Designer: Cake Design By Meg | Props: NOLA Umbrellas | Event Planner: All About Events | Cinema and Video: Jacob Media Project | Photographer: Heirloom Collective