Gone to the dogs.

We are pretty dog crazy around here and few things make us as giddy as seeing a beloved family member take part in your big day-- and all the fashion of it.  Whether wrapped in flowers or all dolled up in a tie, having your dog present creates a great photo op and is utterly charming.  Not to mention, it's hard to imagine celebrating without them!

chocolate lab, samoyeds {Robert Hock}, dog with flower garland

We are absolutely loving the oversized bow around this pooches neck.  This tones down the formality of a wedding making it totally playful and fun, sure to put lots of smiles on your guests faces.  

Martha Stewart Weddings {Max Wanger}

And why not make man's best friend your best man as well?  He gets elevated to groomsman status with a tie or a blazer...

lab with tie, kiss

We love the contrast of these brightly colored flowers (below left) around this dog's neck.  A perfect modern flowergirl, she makes.  And perhaps most adorable of all, even a dog can take part in the photobooth trend.

dog with flowers, golden with bow

If you are looking for an even bigger way to honor man's best friend try something like these mega sized flower topiaries. Not just for weddings, these would make a great statement as they greeted guests at a birthday party or shower.  Very dramatic and slightly cheeky- perfect for setting a tone.
orange dog, poodle, preston bailey, flower poodle  

Not Matching, Done Right.

{Jill Thomas}

After seeing the above image from Rinda and James’ backyard wedding….we instantly feel in love with the idea of non-matching bridesmaid dresses.  Pick one color, or a color palate, and let your girls run wild and express their individual styles.  This will be one bridesmaid dress they will definitely be able to wear again.

shades of green

 dresses: one, two, three, four

 the little black dress

dresses: one, two, three, four

 bright and cheery

dresses: one, two, three, four 

Chuck hearts Blair.

If you are anything like us then you'd love to see a Gossip Girl fashioned wedding, Chuck and Blair style.  Pure prepped out bliss.  We swoon over the idea of plaids, stripes, bows, cucumber sandwiches and a good old fashioned game of croquet. XOXO.  

cakes, chuck bass, bride, blair waldorf, plaid wedding dress, cucumber nibbles, jonathan adler, ranunculus, croquet {Jose Villa}.

DIY White Winter Shower

White is probably our favorite color and there is no better season to embrace white than winter.  This wintery bridal shower showcases some of our favorite things: white sweet treats, ostrich feathers, sparkly metallics, mason jars and vintage china (for that touch of girly color).  White candy creates major visual impact when grouped together in different jars- Candy Warehouse is a great source for candy shopping by color.  White tea, white wine, tiny goat cheese sandwiches and mini cheesecakes keep with the theme while the moss and feather touches tie the whole room together without looking too matchy-matchy.

Wine labels can be soaked off and replaced with any design of your choice by printing photoshopped images on sticker paper.  Napkins can be cut from fabric and stamped with a monogram for one time use (below left). And anything the bride loves can be placed inside terrariums to create personalized displays.  By adding white lights it creates a focal point for the eye in a candle lit room (below middle).  Wooden letters from the craft store can be wrapped in moss, fabric, or flowers with a spray adhesive and placed on the front door for the guest of honor (below right). 

We love how simple office supplies can provide inspiration. These round tags were transformed with sticker labels, string, and little bells to create a personalized touch that's clean and modern.  They were also used in the invitations (below left). 

Empty ornament balls from Michaels can be filled with almost anything for a strong visual statement when grouped together.  Here they were strung on the front porch to greet visitors to the party with personal notes about the couple. Filled with moss, feathers, and typewriter font they were a hint at what was inside the house.

We really believe whatever your budget- dim the lights and use candles, candles and more candles.  Lighting can make or break an event and is an inexpensive way to create a visual impact.

 

Baby Shower Chic.

Making a baby shower cute and cool, can sometimes be difficult to achieve.  For a mom about to have a little girl....add modern touches like bunting flags, large balloons, chic invitations, and ta-da…you have a baby shower that your girlfriends will truly love. 

cupcakes, favor box, baby blanket, balloons & candy table {Studio Foto}, pom poms, table & chandeliers, bunting, invitation, cupcake