The legendary Bergdorf Goodman window displays reveal a wellspring of inspiration to draw from.  Take this fantastical snapshot of a dusky reflection blurring the whimsy of a topiary-style circus.  Step right up and find the spark that will bring to life the show to end all shows – your big day.

This article was originally posted onBridezilla.

More pink and green today! Although this time there’s something blue in it, too…

Sometimes a single photo can inspire an entire event, and in the case of this inspiration board, it’s the delicious peach pic from What Katie Ate. That lovely blue on the rim of the plate, the soft white linen napkin, and of course the baked peaches. Mmmm…. The romantic garden feel came next: lace wedding dress, antique cameo ring, garden roses. And though this palette works splendidly in the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I think it could also work for a pretty beach wedding.

Mood: sweet garden romance
Palette: sea foam blue, cameo peach, white linen

Top row from left: peach dessert on blue plate from What Katie Ate, wild bouquet with pink satin ribbon from Martha Stewart Weddings, lace cap-sleeve dress by Christos, calligraphy by Maria Thomas
Row 2: photo of pink glasses by Sylvie Gil via The Bride’s Cafe, photo from Brooklyn Botanic Garden by Henry Shoots via Style Me Pretty
Row 3: bouquet of peach garden roses and old fashioned roses by Ariella Chezar (photo by Corbin Gurkin), linen hemstitch napkin with sage green monogram from Leontine Linens, vintage cameo ring from Morning Glory Antiques, photo of blue bridesmaid dresses by You Look Nice Today

If you like this inspiration board, you might also like:

Board #473: Antique Peach and Blue
Board #496: Secret Garden, Revisited
Board #466: Have your cake…

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Designers and celebrities go arm-in-arm these days.  From models-turned-household names to red carpet actresses who can carry a gorgeous gown better than anyone I know, these photographic women are helping push the designer perfume industry to new heights.  In their individual campaigns, they range from urban chic to evening sleek.  Each of their styles can be used as a muse for finding the perfect wedding dress, reception dress and a post-wedding date night dress.  Re-discover the beauty and inspiration.

The Bachelorette Party

It’s a big night for you and your girlfriends.  Don’t bother staying in to watch movies and do pedicures, go all out and celebrate the exciting life you are about to embark on.  It’s a time for dressing up in a little number that softly floats around you and radiates the ecstatic, living-in-the-moment glow you just can’t help but exude.  You’re just oh, so very irresistible.

Your muse: Liv Tyler in Givenchy’s Eau de Parfum Sensuelle campaign

The Rehearsal Dinner Dress

The rehearsal dinner calls for a more reigned in and refined look than the let loose fun times of the bachelorette bash.  Keep it modern and pulled together with a form-fitting strapless dress.  Channel your inner Parisian with an effortlessly glamorous look.  A structured dress, a slimming jacket and purposefully mussed hair will do the trick nicely.

Your muse: Kate Moss in Yves Saint Laurent’s Parisienne campaign

The Wedding Dress

Your big moment, the monumental trading of vows in front of your dearest family and friends, should go down with a bang.  Take the spotlight in a voluminous gown with eye-catching, daring accessories and a billowing sash that trails you down the aisle.  Make the dress you covet a reality for a day you will never forget.

Your muse: Sarah Jessica Parker in Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet campaign

The Reception Dress

Now you’re married happily ever after.  The pressure is off and you can blissfully glide through your reception with a sense of dreamy romance.  Let there be cake and lots of it as you make your newly married debut in a fun party frock.  Now is a great time for a festive splash of color; pink is perfect for a love-drunk newlywed.  Now it’s all la vie en rose, ma chérie.

Your muse: Maryna Linchuk (I know she’s not exactly a celebrity) in Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie campaign

The Date Night Dress

Settling in to the routine of married life does not mean letting go of date night.  Keep the romance alive with special nights where you can become completely absorbed in each other once again and not be distracted by work, phones or TV.  This is a night of pure regal luxury, a night out on the town.  Don a body skimming gown with just a touch of sparkle from some well-place diamonds and toast to your new life together.

Your muse: Nicole Kidman in Chanel’s Chanel No. 5 campaign

This article was originally posted onBridezilla.

I suppose I should get to the point and introduce our wedding theme. While I don’t really think I can put a name to it, I’d probably describe it like this:

One part vintage + one part country + one part romance + a whole lotta heart. (That last one is my favorite wedding from Brother Oatmeal. So touching and special.)

This wedding is going to reflect us, and believe me when I tell you that we aren’t following any tradition just because we “have” to. I can’t promise everything will be perfect, but I can promise that I’ll be crying a lot, we’re going to have fantastic music, our wedding party’s speeches won’t disappoint, and there won’t be any boring downtime.

OK, back to the fun stuff. I started looking at wedding blogs long before I had a ring on my finger. Speaking of rings, have I told you about mine? Cause I’m in love with it. It doesn’t look like anyone else’s I know, it’s yellow gold, and it’s just wonderful. I’ll try to get a good shot of it one of these days to show you. It deserves its very own post, anyway. So I was talking about how I was frequenting blogs even before the proposal. I’m admitting it because I know I’m not the only one out there that’s done that. So I’d say I had a pretty good idea of the look I wanted pretty early on.

Here are some details that have inspired me over the last few months.

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What have you found inspiring? Did you look at blogs like I did? Was it more bridal magazines and shows? Or have you always known what look you wanted for your wedding and didn’t really need to get inspired?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

You may recall our big Marie Antoinette meets Alice in Wonderland wedding, no? It was a pink and purple French inspired confection. Well, if you don’t, here is my inspiration board:

Snippet and Ink / color swatches from 100 Layer Cake

Pretty, right? Yeah, well, that wedding was canceled.

When Mr. R and I decided to have a surprise wedding, I felt like if I tried to recreate our original theme on a smaller scale, it would be bad juju.

Too much stress and drama was attached to the original idea to even give it a second thought. I chalked it up to planning someone else’s wedding and went back to the drawing board.

I’ve been having a major love affair with navy blue lately, so I definitely wanted to include that. Plus a ballet pink because I love ballet and I love pink, obviously. I scanned 100 Layer Cake and Snippet & Ink and came up with a brand new color scheme.

Snippet and Ink / color swatches from 100 Layer Cake

Still girly, but not quite so princessy and perfectly appropriate for a small park wedding.

What say you hive? Have you totally revamped your vision for your wedding?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

In the past, I’ve mentioned that I have mixed feelings about the color red (which you’ll probably find amusing when you see some of my own wedding details) – sometimes I think it’s overly dramatic and awful, while other times I love love love it. Today, in this context, I love it. Inspired entirely by that cute skirt and floral sweater found via This is Glamorous, I wanted to create something that was a mix of vintage charm and modern elegance. I imagined a hometown wedding, quite possibly with the reception held at the bride’s childhood home (white picket fence and all!). A vintage look for the bride (satin v-back dress, feather head piece, pearls) jazzed up with red accessories and red lipstick, is the perfect fit at this wedding. Chintzy floral patterns can be sweet when used sparingly (perhaps as envelope liners or to decorate elements of the dessert table).

Mood: romantically retro red roses
Palette: red, white, pink

Top row from left: “Keep Me” from The Curious Nomad via Design Crush, red jumper from Asos via This is Glamorous, red Christian Louboutin wedding shoes via Michelle Rago, photo of bride with red lipstick and vintage hat by The Nichols via Style Me Pretty
Row 2: photo of pearl necklace by Sarah Rhoads via Green Wedding Shoes, duchesse satin dress with v-back from J.Crew, centerpiece with peonies and vines by Ariella Chezar, rose champagne cocktail from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: princess cake with roses, letterpress invitation with red roses by Milkfed Press for Martha Stewart Weddings, photo of vintage getaway car by Thayer Allyson Gowdy for Laurie Arons Special Events, picket fence from Country Living

If you like this inspiration board, you might also like:

Board #241: Love Triumphant
Board #294: Playful Poppy
Board #490: Poppy & Mint

Laurie Arons Special Events is a sponsor of Snippet & Ink.

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

Drawn to the dark side – escape from a world of beautiful ballet and enter into the dramatic.  Bold shades of night separate the bridezillas from the brides, while pops of cool turquoise offset vibrant coral (inspired by Natalie Portman’s glowing eyes in full Black Swan regalia).  Find your balance between the power of an inky gown and the soft airiness of a ballerina with Black Swan as your muse.

This article was originally posted onBridezilla.

I’m a planner, and as such I did a fair amount of Internet research before our engagement shoot. Stalking Viewing other people’s photos gave me ideas about outfits, accessories, and poses. There’s a plethora of advice out there on how to prepare for your session, but here are a few tips that we found really helpful:

1. Be true to yourself. If you normally wear flip flops, it probably isn’t a good idea to use this as an opportunity to wear four-inch stilettos. Wear clothes, shoes, and accessories that scream “you.” If you’re comfortable in your own skin, that confidence will translate to the photos. For example, these were our “casual” outfits:

You might be going “Whaaaaaa? That’s super dressy!” But, these clothes reflected our personal styles, and I love how they turned out!

2. Coordinate. Your own outfit, but also with your fiance’s outfit. In the eternal words of Stacy London and Clinton Kelly: “It doesn’t have to MATCH, it has to GO!”

3. Color. I’ve read in many places that jewel tones (e.g., emerald, ruby, sapphire) photograph well and also tend to look good with any complexion. Avoid loud, distracting prints, and also bright whites…huh? Didn’t Mr. Tartlet wear a white suit in your photos? Yep, we ignored that last bit of advice, and for the most part it worked out just fine. However, there were a small handful that had a distinct Touched by an Angel look:

Whoopsie. Well, he’s one hot angel!

4. Hair. Now is so not the time to experiment. If you plan on getting your hair cut, do it well before the photo session so it has time to relax into the new style. Don’t be like Mr. Tartlet, who was late to the shoot because he was getting his hair cut. That’s my guy.

5. Makeup. Even if you’re like me and don’t wear makeup regularly, I highly recommend wearing some for the session. If you’re a fellow sufferer of shiny-forehead syndrome, my weapon of choice is Laura Mercier’s Smooth Focus Pressed Setting Powder. I’m pretty sure Photoshop editing can achieve similar effects (I’m no expert), but getting dolled up made me feel sassy and more confident!

6. Nails. The photographer will likely want a close-up shot of your ring. As such, nails should be clean, and make sure your hands aren’t super dry. Manicures aren’t necessary, but if you’re looking for an excuse, this would be a great one!

7. Bring chapstick. Your lips may get really dry after all those smooches. Along the same lines, I wish I had brought a bottle of water because I was super parched by the end of the session.

How did you prepare for your engagement photos?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

I couldn’t let December get away without posting at least one inspiration board, and I knew it had to be a Christmas-y, winter-y one! Right now, I’m loving white and gold – it’s warm and rich, yet it can be surprisingly simple. Here, I’ve imagined decorating with wreaths on the doors and windows, pillar candles on the table, and whimsical menus and stationery. Instead of nutmeg, garnish eggnog with tiny flakes of edible gold. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, how about a gingerbread “town square” cake? A long-sleeved lace dress is a perfectly timeless choice for a winter bride.

Mood: winter warm, sweet and simple
Palette: golden ochre, eggnog white

Top row from left: Chez Panisse menu by Cynthia Warren (photo by Aya Brackett), gold wreath and eggnog both from Martha Stewart
Row 2: church photo by Mark Staff, pillar candle centerpiece from Martha Stewart via This is Glamorous
Row 3: gold frame and leaves from Matthew Mead, solitaire diamond ring by Blanca Monros Gomez, photo of vintage inspired lace dress by Angela Anderson via Ruffled, gingerbread house cake from Martha Stewart

If you like this inspiration board you might also like:

Board #322: All is Calm, All is Bright
Board #446: Ivory & Evergreen
Board #501: Simple Maple Sugar

This article was originally posted onSnippet & Ink.

One of the first things Mr. Pancakes and I decided early in the planning process was that we wanted to be as green as possible. The reality is, this is the most money we’ll have ever spent on anything, and we don’t want to spend it polluting the planet. To us this means we will only spend money on things that are really going to be meaningful or useful. For example, we won’t use tiny bags for favors that people will just throw away, when we could just use one reusable basket or just put them out on a table.

When thinking about our guestbook, we really wanted to think of something that we would get to appreciate for years to come. Personally, I like the idea of putting our engagement photos into a bound album and having guests sign it. I also like the idea of a photobooth with Polaroids that the guests can sign and add to a wishing tree or something. Enter Internet. There are SO many amazing alternatives to the traditional guestbook.

{Aaron of True Photography, via Brooke Keegan}

I really like the idea of signing shoes, especially if you aren’t going to wear the shoes again.

{Style Me Pretty}

I also really liked this oar idea. I don’t know why, but I think that these oars would look nice up on a wall or something. However, I don’t think these go with the theme of our wedding.

{Project Wedding}

I like the idea of signing champagne bottles because I am secretly a bottle hoarder. I kept the bottle of champagne we (I) drank the night we got engaged, but had to throw it out because we were moving and it’s just not practical to shuttle bottles around. I kept the label, though. Unfortunately, I just don’t think this idea is very practical.

{Kind Over Matter}

I love the way these wish trees look. Plus, if you got one of those metal book rings, you could make a little flip book out of the messages. That could make a really sweet keepsake. I was also thinking we could even use some medium-sized luggage tags, and then make a little luggage-tag book. I would stamp one side with quotes or something, and the guests could write their messages on the other side. It would be A-DORABLE.

{Wedding Channel}

This bowl got me thinking about ring bowls…If you have few enough guests, you could have everyone sign your ring bowl, which would be an amazing keepsake. I also like the picture frame a lot.

{Elizabeth Anne Design}

This is one of my very favorites. The guest”book” quilt. Since my sewing machine no longer works, I would probably have to buy a quilt and just have the guests sign it, unless I could find someone who was willing to sew the squares together for me. I also love this idea because it is so practical. I love quilts, and it would be great to have one that was covered in the warm wishes of the people I love most.

What are some other great ideas that I’ve missed?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.