Teal, Gray + Yellow Wedding :: Manassas Candy Factory

On a seemingly hot July afternoon, everyone gathered at the Manassas Candy Factory in Virginia to set up for an amazing wedding. All the vendors came together to complete this amazing teal, gray and yellow wedding. With rustic charm (great brick walls throughout the space) and unique touches the ordinary art space became an amazing ceremony and reception space. With railroad tracks sitting right next to the Candy Factory, it was more then fitting for a train to blow if horn while passing by during the ceremony, making everyone smile. With two unique spaces, the ceremony location was transformed in a mere hour into the reception space, while cocktail hour took place in the local art gallery. With great food, great music and a beautiful friend-made cake, the wedding reception could not help but make everyone smile. The night ended with dancing and beautiful paper lanterns lit-up and hung above the dance floor. Enjoy some of the detail pictures I took during the event!

Sunflowers :: Flower Inspriation

   I am in love with all the beautiful sunflowers at the store and in life. They just make me so happy every time I look at them and are so simply beautiful. Sunflowers are great summer flowers and go with many different colors, especially navy blues and whites. I love them with twine or burlap since sunflowers are rustic and natural. Go to the store and buy some and put them in a vase... I promise they will lighten up your day! 

Take Me Down The Aisle

Walking down the aisle is your shining moment, walking to your groom with all friends and family watching. Make it a moment to remember with fun and interesting aisle decorations. Add flowers, lanterns, petals, trees, or anything that fits you theme. Make your aisle beautiful with fun details that you want to photographed with while walking down as a bride and walking away as a wife. You can make your ceremony space as beautiful as your reception space with a few special touches.

Pictures From:
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Martha Stewart
Polka Dot Bride
Urban Bride
Wish Special Events
Pink Frosting

Rustic Blue + Yellow :: Oxen Hill Manor

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure to be at a wedding at Oxen Hill Manor in Oxen Hill, MD. Their color scheme was light blue and yellow, which worked perfectly with the house. They used lots of flowers and candles to keep a comforting aura throughout the entire house. There were many great flowers and great lighting throughout the house. Here are some of the great pictures from the wedding. Enjoy! { All Pictures Taken By Kristina Dorough Photography }

Design by: My Simple Details

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Flowers are such an integral part of weddings and events. Although you may love some kinds of flowers, they may not be in season and could cost you an am and a leg to get. Here is a small guide to some spring flowers that are in bloom and will be the easiest to get. These are by no means all the flowers that you will be able to get in the springtime, but these are some of the most popular grown spring time flowers!

Spring Flowers

From:
http://www.types-of-flowers.org/spring-flowers.html

Oh How I LOVE Ikea!

As gas prices are rising and it seems like everything is costing more... it only makes sense that brides and corporate planners will try and use cheaper items to make their event magical. I am and will always be a fan of Ikea. I know some people may not agree, but they have some great items for decorating a space or venue for your special day or event. These items are normally super cheap can can sometimes be ordered so that you can get as many as you need. A lot of other home decor stores are really expensive or don't carry a ton of one item. Here are some of my favorite items to use during an event to same some money!


Great vases, wire baskets, lanterns, trays and more! There are so many things that Ikea has that are useful at weddings and events! They are cheap and are easily transitioned to be used in the home!

Pictures from www.ikea.com

Mason Jars :: Southern Rustic Charm

Now that summer is right around the corner and it is inevitable I will be spending more time outside, I keep thinking about mason jars. Drinking out of them, playing games with them, putting candles in them; there are so many uses for the mason jar at either a rustic spring or summer wedding. Enjoy some of the great picks and even if you are not using them at a wedding or event make a mojito, put it in a mason jar and sit outside and relax!

Pictures From:
http://www.lovelifeimages.com/
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog
http://simplyperfectweddings.blogspot.com
www.theknot.com
http://www.athousandmasonjars.com
http://fromlorinskitchen.blogspot.com
http://summerliving11.blogspot.com
http://www.re-nest.com
http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com
http://www.weddingbee.com

Lemons and Limes and Everything Nice

With spring so close I cannot stop thinking about all the bright and amazing colors that spring brings. I love  the great fruits and vegetables that come with spring as well. fruit is a great way to bring in great color to a wedding or event. Use fruit as a accent to your centerpieces and flowers or as the main attraction. You are not just stuck with yellow and greens, you can add in reds, pinks, oranges and blues! Below is an inspiration board for all you waiting for spring to come and fruit to be in season!

Pictures are From:
www.theknot.com
http://bios.weddingbee.com
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/thanksgiving-table-1107
http://libbyjames.wordpress.com
http://www.weddingwindow.com
http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/wedding-reception-centerpieces.html
http://www.sageberrydesigns.com

Love Me Some Birch

 I am in love with the birch look this winter season! I love it for any season really since it is versatile and looks great with some many natural colors. I found a great DIY to make birch center pieces! I found some great birch vases made with a glass vase and a birch sleeve bought at a flower market, then take anything you have around the house or can find at the craft store to decorate the vases, like jewels and earrings and fabric flowers.

I love the green and natural look of birch and the simplicity of it! You can also buy birch branches at the flower market or a local craft store and use them alone or in a flower arrangement. You can also paint the birch piece or use sticks you find from around your yard and paint them. If you want a green wedding this is a great way to go since it is inexpensive and natural.

Birch can go a long way and can be used in many different ways. Use it in the winter or in the spring! Birch is also great to use within the house as well, make your own birch candle holders or throughout your home!

Good luck making your centerpieces and enjoy the holidays!

Found From: Elizabeth Anne Designs and edytaszyszlo

Color of the Week: Natural Light Green

This is my favorite color for weddings… it is already in my wedding album for whenever my wedding happens. It is also one of the hottest colors to use right now! Since the natural green is subtle and beautiful, it goes with many colors and can easily fit into any theme. I especially love it for an outdoor wedding with a preppy feel. I love the color with subtle blues, oranges and pinks since it complements the natural green. Pretty much what I want my wedding to be! I also love the natural green with white flowers since it is clean and simple. It looks great with wood vases and birdcages! I also love this color for any season wedding, since like I said earlier, it is so clean and versatile. Since the color is found is so many fruit, it is a great idea to incorporate that into your wedding. Using apples and pears as escort cards work well! Other natural items like limes, artichokes and grass are great accents to your wedding/event! There are so many other ways to use the green color in different variations! Be creative with the color and add it in innovative ways to your event or wedding!

Here are some of my FAVORITE pictures of natural green used in weddings/events. I cannot get over this color and am even using it as a flower accent to some brighter painted furniture! Oh did I mention it looks great in you house against a brighter wall. The colors of white and natural green are so clean it contrasts great with brighter items. Enjoy!

Photos From:

http://www.theknot.com/

Spring's Coming Early {Cherry Blossoms}

With all this cold weather I started thinking about spring! Cherry Blossoms are an amazing flower that are prevalent in Japan, but are also found every spring in Washington DC. I love going to the cherry blossom festival around the city and seeing all the amazing pink flowers everywhere. Weather you are in Japan, DC or anywhere, cherry blossoms are a great flower to use as a theme throughout your wedding. If you want a light pink color are part of your wedding colors, then this flower is a perfect choice. It is subtle and delicate, going great with whites and browns or blues and silvers. You can make the flower as much a part of your wedding as wanted, just incorporate them into the floral arrangements or make it an all out theme. The flowers may be hard to find during some seasons, but I love seeing the use of cherry blossoms during a delicate winter wedding and throughout the spring. If you live in the Washington, DC area or an area where cherry blossoms bloom, take engagement pictures with the trees or take a break on your wedding day to take pictures around the trees. If anything take inspiration from the amazing colors of pink and white for your wedding or event.

Photos From:

Top Photo:

http://lumiere.sopheava.com/

Collage:

http://www.sdweddinginsider.com/

http://weddingdazed.blogspot.com/

blog.weddingpaperdivas.com

http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/

blog.kateaspen.com

http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/ http://www.japannewbie.com/

weddings.justinhankins.com

http://www.cirenwebdesign.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31692583

The Spice of Life

Every night I come home from work and cook dinner, while my boyfriend does, and every night I am amazed at the brilliant color of spices. When thinking of where the best spices come from I immediately though of India. They use spices in everything and every spice has a wild color and fragrance. I love the mixture of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns that make up their spice jars. I felt inspired to look at events and weddings that use colors inspired by India's spices to real spice up the party. Some of these colors are bold and daring, while others are subtle and cool. Together they make up an amazing color palette. Bring in some of these amazing colors at your next event or work them into your wedding to accentuate your colors and flowers. Below is some inspiration for us all from these great spices!

Photos From:

Top Photo:

http://whatsforlunchhoney.blogspot.com/

Photo Collage:
http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/
http://daily.wedshare.com/
http://www.whitelacewedding.com/
http://weddingrumors.com/
http://www.stylemepretty.com/

http://www.onewhitedress.ne/

http://www.primadonnabride.co.za/

http://thepeacockbrides.blogspot.com/
http://my-riviera-wedding.com/
http://www.shopindream.com/

blog.weddingwire.com

Fanciful Feathers

I have a new love and it is feathers! Recently brides have been wearing them in their hair, adding them to flower arrangements and putting them on their cake. Although I do admit some people take it over the edge or do not make it look pleasing at all, there is a romantic and fun way to add feathers into your wedding or event. You can normally find cheaper colored feathers, but I would try and stick with nicer feathers if using them for your event. The ostrich feather is a fun large feather that added together in a bunch can create a beautiful centerpiece. I am more obsessed about peacock feathers. They have gorgeous colors and are so fun! There are so many ways to add feathers into your wedding or event. Weather you want there be a feather theme or just accents of feathers, you can do it. Here are some simple or crazy ways to add feather to your wedding or event.

• In  your hair
• On your dress, creating an amazing cascade down the dress
• On invitations
• As centerpieces
• In the bouquet
• On the cake (can even just use the design of a feather on the cake)
• On the tablecloths
• As decorations
• On escort cards or table numbers
• Drinks inspired by animals that have feathers… don’t want to put feathers in a drink
• Food inspired by feathers
• On your garter
• On the ring pillow
• Instead of flowers use feathers for the “feather” girl
• On the ceremony programs

The opportunity to add feathers is really endless. Make it modern, vintage, homespun or high end.

Photos From:

Daily.wedshare.com

Blog.iplanitright.com

www.baroncards.com

www.weddingsonthefrenchrivera.com

paperolive.blogspot.com

www.pinkfrosting.com.au

www.snaptacularphotos.com

DIY Flower Hair Pieces

Hello... So like mentioned in my previous post here is how to make the flower hair pieces I had made for the PA wedding! I unfortunately did not take pictures while I was making the hair pieces... but it is pretty self explanatory! I am going to make a ton of hair pieces now since they are so easy and you can make them out of anything you find! Let me know how they go!

1. Get bobby pins, clips or any metal/plastic hairpiece you want to use.

2. Go to the local craft store and look at all their fake flower selection. I chose smaller flowers, but you can do this with any size flower that you want.

3. Take the flower and cut the stem off as close as possible to the flower without breaking the flower.

4. Take a hot glue gun and glue the flower to the clip. I found that it was easier to use bobby pins for smaller flowers and a larger clip for larger flowers.

5. Wait for them to dry and use them in all your hairstyles!

Super easy and super cute! What a great idea if you want all bridesmaids to have flowers in their hair and don’t want to spend a fortune. If you find or make a fabric flower you can still easily hot glue it to a clip. Look at thrift stores for clothes that may have flowers or appliqués on them… cut them off and make them into a hair piece. You can do this with feathers, buttons, or anything you think would be cute as a hair accessory!

Here is simply what I did as well for my hair... so easy and looks so good and formal.

1. Put your hair half up and secure with bobby pins...as if you were doing a normal half up half down hairstyle.

2. Take small sections of your hair and wrap them around your finger.

3. Bobby pin the wrapped hair to your head.

4. Repeat 2 and 3 until you have done all of your hair and bobby pinned it up. It can be kinda messy and you might have to add extra bobby pins here and there!

5. Hair spray your hair

6. Add the flowers you made to the style. I did 5 around the top of the curls, but a larger flower to one side would look great as well!

Fall into Fall Weddings

I was thinking about the changing on the seasons and how beautiful fall is with all the leaves changing and Halloween. Although I am a little busy today I thought I would share some of my favorite fall wedding pictures, ideas and a of couple facts about fall weddings (thanks to TheKnot.com)! All these pictures and ideas are related to fall colors... if you are having a fall wedding it does not by any means mean that you cannot use other colors or have to integrate fall into your wedding!

 I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful Wednesday and this great fall weather!

Pictures From:
http://www.theknot.com/
http://www.indianapolisweddingblog.com/
http://www.kamat.com/
daily.wedshare.com
blog.weddingwire.com

Mirror Mirror on the Wall... Who Has the Prettiest Wedding Hair of Them All

Going to attempt this style with white/pink flowers

On this dreary, rainy Monday morning here in D.C. all I can think about is how I am going to do my hair for a wedding I am attending this weekend. Since I am having so many problems trying to decide, I cannot imagine a bride-to-be trying to figure out how to do their hair. This is as stressful as finding a dress! Unless you have a hairstyle that you know your groom loves and looks great with the dress, you are lost. I personally have medium length curly fine hair... what should I do?? I started looking at different websites with hairstyles and got more than I bargained for! So many different choices and pages and pages of styles I got a little flustered. In my case I am trying to do my hair myself so I cannot do all styles, but for most brides they most likely have a hair dresser or a friend to help them out. Still, what to choose?

I started looking at TheKnot.com hairstyles and found some great ones, but still seems very time consuming! I also have fallen in love with people putting flowers and/or feathers or other things in their hair. Now I am trying to figure out what hairstyle to choose and how I can get some flowers in my hair. Here is my process for brides and anyone going to a party to figure out what hairstyle they want (this is not scientific)

1. Figure out what type of hair you have and what hairstyles are even possible with your hair, rule out styles you know are not possible and don't event look at them. This will allow you to narrow down your search and also not fall in love with a style that is not possible.
2. Figure out if you want your hair full down, half up half down, or in an up-do. If you are unsure it is ok too, but even if you can rule out one of these styles it again helps narrow down you search.
3. If you don't have a hair stylist to do your hair, figure out what is possible by yourself or with a friends help. Some styles are too hard so they can be ruled out right away.
4. Once you have your list of things to look at... begin looking at websites or books. Here are some sites I really liked with hairstyles.
http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/hair/results.aspx?type=3&wedding+details=hair
http://weddings.weddingchannel.com/wedding-planning-ideas/wedding-hairstyles.aspx
Just Google "Wedding Hairstyles" and look at the images
http://www.modelbride.com/category/007308.shtml
http://haircomesthebride.com/

5. Choose 3 or 4 styles that you really like... don't choose more than that in the beginning to try out since it will be too overwhelming. If possible try all the styles out at home and with the veil or headpiece and any other accessories you want in your hair. Although it may not be perfect at least you can see how the style looks on your face shape and your hair type and with the hairpieces.

6. Take pics of the hairstyles on yourself  and ask your fiance, friends, people at work, anyone really. Also, having someone who has an unbiased opinion will help you get an honest opinion. If people all say they like a style you do not want... then by all means choose the one you like best, but this should help you narrow things down.

7. Once you have found the 1 or 2 or more styles you absolutely love go to the hairstylist you are having do your hair, or friend, and have them help you choose a style and try it out on your hair. This will give you a good chance to see how the stylist will do your hair and how it will look professionally.

8. Hopefully you have found your wedding or event hairstyle and can love it!

Going through this process can be overwhelming so by all means skip parts if you want! But hopefully it will help you decide what you want your hair to look like on the big day! Always choose what you love and what is most comfortable for you, don't chose a hairstyle because someone else wants you in it!

Here are some hairstyles and headpieces I am absolutely in LOVE with! (all from sites listed above)

Help I'm Lost! {Creative Escort Cards}

looking at http://frostyweddings.blogspot.com/2010/08/katie-luke-married.html i came across an amazing idea for showing off guests name cards. There is always the great folded card on a table, but why not make it something cute and fun for the guests. If you have a theme running in your wedding use it or take it to the extreme to show off the name cards. What an amazing idea to use old shutters! I saw on the Rachel Ray show once someone use the old shutters to make a mail holder by placing a piece of wood behind the slates so that you could stick mail in and it wont fall out! Maybe a great way to re-use the shutters after the wedding.

Here are some other great ideas I have found across the web... Enjoy!

• Use pine cones are the name holder for a fall themed wedding. Enhance the name card table by adding some great fall foliage and fall flowers to the table. DIY instructions: http://www.songbird-creative.com/blog/diy-pine-cone-place-cards.html
• If you  have a good tree/twig theme running throughout your florals, try using a small tree/twigs to place all the name cards on. This may take a little more work to find the appropriate tree, but super cute once it is all done.
• Use smooth rocks, can be purchased at the craft store, and write with paint pen the guests name. This is an easy DIY project and super cute with an outdoor relaxed country wedding.
• Combine the wedding favor with the place card by putting the place card in a cute, engraved picture frame.
• For a beach wedding take sand dollars, starfish and bigger seashells and tie a ribbon in our wedding color around the item and have the name on a tag on the ribbon. (Hope this makes sense)
• Love cupcakes, use them as the name cards with peoples names on the cupcake or on paper sticking out of the cupcake. Guests will love eating these masterpieces.
• Find a cute board or mirror to place the cards on. I love the idea of a cork board with the cards study on with cute tacks.
• Having a cozy at home or country wedding? use cute ribbon tied from tree to tree to hand the place cards. find cute clothes pins to stick them on.
• Having an eco friendly wedding... get small pots with a plant or seeds in it and place the guests name in the soil. So cute and can double up as the favor since they can take the plant home and enjoy.
• Having your wedding at a winery? Use corks cut in the middle halfway down. place the guests name card into the cork. Need to find corks? Go to a wine festival or winery and ask for their corks... they normally just through them away.
• Use pears, apples, small pumpkins, or anything other sturdy fruit or veggie that is semi themed to your wedding. Lightly paint them gold, silver, bronze and tie a ribbon around the stem with the guests name attached.
• Use small boquets of flowers like lavender or daisys, or other smaller flowers that fit your wedding. use twine or ribbon to tie the flowers together and have the guests name attached to the twine/ribbon. Super cute for an outdoor wedding.

******* DON"T FORGET TO ADD THE TABLE NUMBER TO THE PLACE CARD******

Pictures from:

http://www.khollystudios.com/blog/

http://www.tucsonweddingsite.com/

http://www.newjerseybride.com/

http://www.gigaweb.com/

http://idobelizeweddings.com/blog/

www.rexandregine.com/blog