a Hint of Pink

Isn't this photo lovely? The shell colored Jimmy Choos covered by a wisp of delicate netting are just so feminine and beautiful. Photo by Christian Oth.

Just Married

Absolutely everything about this photo delights me-the classic car and traditional send off, the dreamy light, the dirt road and the fields of summer corn. Growing up on preserved farm land, some of my happiest memories from youthful summers include playing hide-and-seek on afternoons just like this one.

Photo by Nicole Ladonne.

Did you play in the mud as a kid, or were your days spent in more refined settings?

a Return to Happiness

A stunning lily in the valley bouquet by flowerwild.
Have you ever seen anything more lovely?

Ring a Ding Ding

An absolutely beautiful detail from Kathryn's wedding, photographed by Our Labor of Love. Topper by Etsy's dolciodille.

Real Wedding: Angie and Tyson

All I can say is $5.
$5 is what Angie, this stunning bride, paid for her wedding gown.

Five Dollars!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I am free to chat about all the other things I love about this wedding, which include the flowers, the reception, the kazoos, the bridesmaids dresses, the dreamy photos, her bow ring and that wedding gown. How, you might ask, does one find a five dollar wedding gown? The bride purchased it (and its matching veil) at a vintage store that charges by the pound-luckily tulle is light.

Angie and Tyson were so set on KampPhotography as their wedding photographers that they actually moved the date of their wedding; while it sounds a little crazy, I can't imagine more beautiful photographs. I completely applaud their decision. They were married in Angie's parents' yard and Tyson's brother officiated the ceremony, ensuring this was an intimate, family affair.

Tyson is a talented artist who designed the papers and many of the wedding's other charming details. Angie, a Montreal-based clothing designer for Norwegian Wood, made all the lovely bridesmaids' dresses with fabric from QuiltHome; the same fabric served as placemats at the reception. The bride wore vintage jewelry and a favorite leather belt-have you ever seen a more stylish bride? Those charming war medals the bridal party wore were actually all designed by the creative bride and her friend, then laser cut by Mike of furni. Each featured the first initial of the wearer and made an absolutely lovely tribute to their participation in Angie and Tyson's wedding.

In keeping with this wedding's homemade feel, Angie's sister Pam baked their adorable cake. Red velvet cupcakes were baked with a Design*Sponge recipe by close friends and Etsy-ers, and Grandma Johnson's famous popcorn balls were prominently featured on the dessert table.


Before the ceremony, the bride and her 'maids collected wildflowers from her parents' yard: foxtails, bullrushes, grasses, canola and nasturtiums, then supplemented them with asters and astramaris from the local grocery for color. The reception featured chairs from the local town hall and savory treats from Naleway Catering, a company Tyson once worked for!

See more of this gorgeous, intimate wedding at KampPhotography's KampBlog!

a Love Story

I don't know how many of you out there love Moleskine notebooks. What I can tell you is that we have a large desk drawer full of them-and those are just the notebooks that aren't in circulation. I tote three (my day planner, my address book and a catch-all for my brain) around in my bag, John carries anywhere from four to a half dozen (and probably more) since he uses them for class notes and then there are close to thirty sitting in that drawer.

So needless to say, when I spotted this amazing personalized Moleskine at Lindsay and Campbell's Sayulita wedding, I quickly hit, "Save image as"! You can see more of this beautiful couple's lovely, lemony beach wedding on Style Me Pretty, or browse their incredible photographer, Tec Petaja's blog for more photos!


And tell me, how are your weekends shaping up so far?
I'm waiting for John to put the finishing touches on brunch, and feeling like a very lucky girl indeed!

a Golden Glass

It's Friday, and what better way to celebrate than with a glass of bubbly? Be it Prosecco, Cava or Champagne, it's always delicious. To make it even more special, why not add a few edible gold flakes?

My best San Francisco girlfriend and I had a standing Friday night date (my sweetheart tended bar and hers lived in Los Angeles): pizza, bubbly and sweets were de rigueur, and we usually caught up on that week's primetime TV hits while we gossiped. Becky has since moved to LA, but I thought this would be a lovely way to share our Friday night date with all of you, dear friends!

Photo by Stephanie Foley via the Gourmet archives.

a Cameo

This letterpressed cameo invitation suite by Michelle & Dent is so lovely; I confess to taking a peek at it at least once a day, and more often on seemingly endless afternoons. The boy and girl at the bottom of the invitation are charming, and I love the clever addition of a silver setting on the R.S.V.P. postcard.

Besides, who could resist the wedding invitation of Elizabeth Bennet and William Darcy? They feature your favorite couples from film and literature in their stationery offerings; I'm partial to the confetti-covered invitation to Sabrina Fairchild and Linus Larrabee's fabulous Parisian fête!

a Beautiful Sole

I'm enamored with these feathered Manolos and in absolute awe of this gorgeous photo by Jake McBride for Christian Oth Photography.

Who designs your perfect wedding shoes?

a Glass of Bubbly

This weekend I enjoyed my first "pre-ceremony cocktail hour", and what an ingenious addition to the celebration it was! In a family where dinner is often scheduled two hours before it begins, most of us have a reputation for being late. In fact, my nuclear family arrived at twenty minutes after the cocktail hour's official start to find a nearly empty room!

Not only did the pre-ceremony cocktail hour give guests a little wiggle room to arrive at the difficult-to-find venue, it gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne!

So what do you think:
Would you have a pre-ceremony cocktail hour?


Photo by Kate MacPherson.

Well Matched

This cake, designed by Sweet and Saucy Shop, starred in some French-inspired wedding heaven on Style Me Pretty just last week, and when I saw it I thought, "I know I've seen that before, by Oscar de la Renta!" The little frock I featured a few months ago is just perfect beside this heavenly confection.

Photographed by Michael and Anna Costa, styled by Joy de Vivre.

a Life with You

"My greatest good fortune in a life of brilliant experience has been to find you, and to lead my life with you."

Winston Churchill to his wife, Clementine

Photo by Abby Ross

Real Wedding: Ashley and Derek

This California wedding is such a divine blend of black tie elegance and romantic whimsy; I'm completely head over heels!

Ashley and Derek were married at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic church in La Jolla, CA, and celebrated with friends and family at the Darlington House. The talented team at Amorology planned the event with their signature flair, and helped execute Ashley's dreamy, romantic vision of their wedding day. Flowers designed by KLF Floral were the perfect blend of romance and tradition; they mixed soft pink peonies and black and white anemones to create the bouquets, and featured low arrangements of the same flowers on tables at the reception.

The knockout bride wore a stunning Anne Barge gown; her groom looked at home in his classic tuxedo. After the traditional Catholic ceremony, guests enjoyed savory treats by Tapenade and cakes from Sweet Cheeks Bakery, including a Texas-embossed groom's cake! Those gorgeous papers were designed by Inky Livie on Etsy, then calligraphed by Calligraphy Katrina; would you believe that the beautiful table runners featured the same paper as the invitation suite? Such a clever idea, and a terrific way to create a united event.

Beautiful photographs by Stephanie Williams Photography.