Seaworthy

John and I took this weekend to prepare for the coming week–seven days from today, our parents will have met for the first time and celebrated John's 26th birthday, he'll have performed his Master's recital and with the help of lots of terrific people, Identified will be moved into swanky new office space in China Basin. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl back into bed this morning and take a nap!

We spent Friday devouring our customary Indian feast and episodes of AMC's The Killing–Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events suggested the show last weekend and John and I are completely hooked! We fell asleep early and I slept in until 10; when I woke up, John was toasting pain au levain for our beautiful breakfast spread. We curled up together to take in a few more episodes of our new favorite show, then settled in with our computers and to-do lists. After an afternoon stroll to our local coop for fresh basil and Valencia oranges, we sipped Campari and sodas with the windows thrown open before making up a beautiful pasta pomodoro. We finished the most recent episodes of The Killing that night (I'm telling you, if you haven't seen it, avoid it so you won't be consumed by it like we obviously have!) and fell fast asleep before any of our neighbors had turned out their lights.

John woke me up early with another beautiful breakfast on Sunday morning, and we worked on one of his final papers while sipping our tea. A few hours of musical analysis later, the two of us pulled on jeans and headed out in the gorgeous weather to run a few errands–a booze superstore for Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve bourbon, Corralejo's reposado tequila and Fever Tree club soda (John's favorite), then Andronico's for fish taco fixings and plenty of avocados. We devoured a shared sandwich and some peanut butter-filled pretzels even before we got home, and then took to our respective desks (I actually work from the kitchen table) to cross a few more tasks off the list. Late that afternoon, I pulled my hair back for a little yoga before settling down for John's delicious tacos–and a few more hours of brainstorming and editing his paper on Francis Poulenc.

Now that I've shared our latest TV obsession, I'm dying to know–what's the show you can't stop watching? Are you delighted to be reunited with Mad Men, furtively watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey, or are you hooked on something else altogether?


Image by Katie Pietrowski. 

West Egg

"I had taken two finger-bowls of Champagne, and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental and profound"

–F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby 

Image by John Dolan.

Gingham

Years of preppy surroundings have given me an appreciation for cable knits, tasseled loafers and pearl studs–to say nothing of argyle, blackwatch and gingham! I just love the pairing of an impeccably tailored tuxedo with this casual bowtie and pocket square–perfect for an East Coast celebration, don't you think?

Are you influenced by the fashions of your hometown, or look elsewhere for inspiration? 

Image by Dede Edwards Photography.

Ginger and Greg

 

 

When you and your future husband live on a gorgeous Virgina estate named Edgehill, originally built for the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and her husband, where else on Earth would you tie the knot? I may not be lucky enough to have a historic home, but there's still plenty of inspiration to take from this classic celebration! 

With the help of designer and coordinator Jennifer Carroll, Greg and Ginger planned an elegant garden ceremony and a dinner for 150 guests under a tent on the manicured lawn. Invitations, printed with a sepia-toned feather designed by Amy Graham Stigler for Bella Figura, introduced the pair's triple-G monogram, for their first names and shared last initial, and featured calligraphy by Heather Rolfe of Heather Belle Ink. Ginger wore a creamy embroidered lace mermaid gown from Priscilla of Boston, paired with ornate drop earrings and her lush peony bridal bouquet by Pat's Floral Design. Her bridesmaids wore blue, while Greg and his groomsmen looked dapper in their best tuxedos. 

After the ceremony, guests took in their palatial surrounds with cocktails on the lawn–the Double G, a vodka tonic with a splash of Campari, and the Triple G, a St Germain tipple. They joined the newlyweds under the tent, filled with hydrangea arrangements and floating candles, for a dinner by Have Food-Will Travel, including fillet of beef au poivre with Madeira sauce, and grilled salmon with dill lemon butter served with smashed potatoes and haricots verts, and a slice of the five-tier coconut-covered confection by Cakes of Art. Emme St. James and Her Jazz Gentlemen played jazz standards, including "At Last" for the newlyweds' first dance, while guests dined, but to mark the end of dinner and the beginning of dancing, the couple relied on something truly explosive–fireworks! And talented photographer Jen Fariello was on-hand to capture each gorgeous moment, first spotted on Martha Stewart Weddings!

What's your favorite detail of this well-heeled fête?

Dream a little dream

I'm a Charlotte, through and through, but that doesn't mean I don't occasionally envy Carrie's shoes...

Looks like this bride's got the best of both worlds!

I think nearly all my girlfriends could tell you their Sex and the City character without a moment's hesitation–what about you?

Image by Sylvie Gil Photography, "Something Blue" satin pumps by Manolo Blahnik.

Vintage

By now, you can probably guess what I was up to this weekend–Indian food with a glass of Cava, poached eggs and rosemary hash browns at Hayes Valley's The Grove, afternoons with beautiful blogs and in downward dog, and even one heavenly afternoon nap with John. So instead of rehashing a delightful but predictable weekend, I thought I'd share something a bit more personal–my very first wedding!

At least I think it's my first wedding–I was probably 4 in this photo, so there were probably other weddings before Fanny's, but this is the first one I remember. Fanny was our nanny, and lived with us until she got married; she's remained another parent, and when she comes for Christmas dinner or birthday celebration, it feels like my family is all together again. That family includes Kelly, the blond standing next to me (you're not shocked that I'm the brunette with bangs, are you?). Our parents took Lamaze classes together, we were born just weeks apart, and Kelly (and later, her younger sister Megan) came over every day, so we were raised like siblings.

While I remember sneaking frosting from the first tier of Fanny's buttercream wedding cake, and taking that blue Fiat in the background to Carvel for soft-serve ice cream afterwards, I think it's the details that have had the biggest effect on me. The Swiss dot, the pearls, the gloves, even the bateau neckline and high-low hemline with a hint of ankle showing–I have something not all that different in mind for my own dress! As I poured over photos from Bridal Market this weekend, what struck me was how beautifully designers had made old new again, from Carolina Herrera's black and swiss dot gown that could have been pulled from Cecil Beaton's My Fair Lady costume archives and that fabulous pant suit with the outrageous straw hat that belonged on an H.M.S. Pinafore set to Romona Keveza's va-va-voom silhouettes, newcomer Hayley Paige's sweet eyelet lace gown with a demure high-low hemline that's more garden wedding than Little House on the Prairie to Oscar de la Renta's incredible collection: the pearl-embroidered mini and matching car coat, perfect for the second Mrs Don Draper, the high-waisted pants and belly-baring bandeau fit for the chicest Palm Springs nuptials by the pool, and those white lace gowns with blue tulle–as equally appealing to girls in studded Jeffrey Campbell boots as Repetto ballet flats. I think it's safe to say I'm smitten with this season's collections!


Tell me, what gowns or details from Bridal Market have you swooning–or planning a vow renewal?

Kona Swizzle

One of John's close friends is a tikki cocktail connoisseur, and San Francisco isn't a bad place to live if you love swizzles and grogs. He introduced us to Smuggler's Cove and a world of delicious libations, like John's favorite, the Queen's Park Swizzle, so when I stumbled on this floral take on the classic, I knew it would be a hit with our cocktail crowd–and you!

Kona Swizzle

2 oz spiced rum 

1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

3/4 oz orgeat syrup

1/4 oz simple syrup

4 mint sprigs

Peychaud's and Angostura bitters 

Gently press 2 sprigs of mint with rum, lime juice, orgeat and simple syrups in a Collins or Pilsner glass. Remove mint and fill halfway with crushed ice; swizzle vigorously with a swizzle stick or bar spoon until the ice level drops a half inch. Add more crushed ice and swirl to frost glass. Top with a mound of crushed ice; add 2 dashes of Peychaud's and 1 dash of Angostura bitters, and garnish with 2 slapped mint sprigs and a straw. 

Notes: Building this cocktail might sound a little fussy, but it's worth the time to truly swizzle this delicious cocktail, rather than simply shake. If you're a rum enthusiast, or just interested in a bit of home alchemy, I'd also suggest you make your own spiced rum, rather than pick up a bottle of whatever your local liquor store has available; those gentlemen at Smuggler's Cove have shared their recipe here, so why not use it? Cheers! 

Recipe by Brian Miller, Photo by Zach DeSart for Bon Appétit.

Marlowe

I'm a sucker for classic scripts and understated ivory invitations, but MaeMae Paperie's Marlowe suite has me dreaming of a Palm Springs celebration with plenty of pep! I simply adore that while none of the graphics match exactly, they harmonize beautifully in a mid-century modern statement. Don't you think you'd flip to see an invitation like this in your mailbox?

Meredith and Dave

 

 

I fell in love with this wedding when I first spotted it in Southern Livings Weddings, and when I started thinking of a week of strawberry lemonade shades, I knew this was the perfect celebration for a little mid-week inspiration! 

This pair both hails from Charlotte, NC but met on a blind date set up by a close friend after they both moved to Manhattan. When they got engaged, they quickly agreed on a hometown wedding with lots of Southern charm, provided in large part by event planner Kristin Newman, who also coordinated Meredith's sister's wedding.

Calligraphed invitations in shades of gray and ivory with the couple's signature bow motif from Oscar & Emma set the tone for a classic, elegant celebration at the Lowndes Grove Plantation, a Charleston waterfront estate. Meredith chose a strapless tulle gown with an asymmetrical lace peplum from Monique Lhuillier, paired with simple golden sandals, upswept hair and simple studs, while her bridesmaids wore pink floor-length columns, also from Monique Lhuillier. Dave, in a Paul Stuart tuxedo, stood by his groomsmen, who wore their own tuxedos, and pinned on ivory spray rose boutonnieres that matched the lush white rose and peony bouquets by Gathering Floral & Design.

After an outdoor ceremony, decorated with peach blossoms–a subtle tribute to the bride's father, who's in the peach business–guests mingled under a gauzy white tent and dined on Southern favorites like shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes, plus lobster rolls and sushi, a nod to the couple's New York address. They cut into a buttercream cake from Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal before departing under a shower of sparklers, captured beautifully by Gayle Brooker Photography!