Tea for Two {or more}

After a long week of night shifts I am beyond thrilled at the arrival of one of my closest friends.

Our very first house guests {& one of our favorite couples around} are visiting B, Bauer, and me for a couple of nights and are scheduled to arrive this morning.

Today, we will enjoy the scenery, play tourists in our backyard, and catch up. I.can't.wait. I am looking forward to sampling some delicious goat cheese, enjoying some yummy chai, and picking up a bottle or two of one of our favorite wines, all the while enjoying fabulous company. The recipe for a lovely day, in my opinion.

. . .

Speaking of special girl time, I have recently fallen back in love with
the afternoon tea.


As a girl, I often shared tea with my mum and my sister or with my Nana or Grandma. Although our tea dates were anything but traditional, I have many fond memories of sharing cookies, laughs, and tea with these special women.


As soon as I saw Martha's Afternoon Bridal Tea Shower images I was smitten.

I will need to plan one of these pretty parties as soon as humanly possible. I have also decided I would like to begin a misfit collection of delicate tea cups, saucers, and pots.


I think a bridal shower tea where each guest brings a tea cup and a few bags of their favorite blend for the guest of honour would be a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Talk about a relaxing, stress-free, and cost effective shower.

Of course, this party would work flawlessly for a baby shower, birthday, or mother's day celebration. I love that this concept is so laid back and how it is a modern spin on the traditional practice.


Who could turn down finger sandwiches, shortbread, and tea?

{All images courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings}

"I Love You, Man" Wedding Style

Last night B and I saw I Love You, Man, partly because we share a crush on Jason Segel [on that note: if you haven't ever watched How I Met Your Mother check it out tonight].

. . .

Apart from the hilarious banter, gorgeous Californian landscape, and adorable wardrobe of Rashida Jones’ character Zooey, the movie boasts a fabulous wedding ceremony.


One of my very favorite colours, golden canary yellow, is used so well in this ceremony.

If you look closely, you can see lovely blooms and crystals hanging along the aisle: such a gorgeous feature.


The bride’s style is flawless. Isn't Rashida Jones gorgeous?


I adore her updo [complete with Dendrobium Orchids] and her laid back elegance. Her lovely dress is J.Crew. It was customized by the film’s costume designer.


I am a huge fan of these dresses, although it is clear that there is a love-hate dispute regarding the colour.

Their orchid and flax leaf bouquets are adorable. [I am becoming an enthusiast of the flax leaf: its look is so fresh and clean, perfect for Spring & Summer weddings].


Yellow Calla Lily centerpieces are both simple and stunning. I love how the crisp yellow and green make the centerpiece pop.

. . .

P.S.: See the movie to see more of this beautiful wedding [and exercise your laugh muscles].

Images courtesy of All Movie Photos {1, 2, & 5} and Brides {3 & 4}.

Birthday Wishes & Wet Sloppy Kisses

[Please excuse me while I'm a proud mum for a moment].

Today marks our little buddy's first birthday.

In the car on the way home from the breeder.
[Yes, he's a poser: he loves having his photo taken].

I can't believe we only picked him up 10 months ago. It feels like he's been in our lives forever.

I love this photo that Miranda took of Bauer last summer.
He just loves water.

He's our world; B and I are completely smitten with him.



Happy Birthday baby boy. We love you.
xx.

Garden Wedding Decor

Welcome Spring!

In celebration of the first day of Spring, I decided to post some beautiful photos from one of my favourite garden weddings.


How stunning is the decor and tablescape? I don't think I've ever seen such a glamorous tent reception. These floral arrangements are so beautiful.


I love this seating card arrangement so much I wanted to post it again.


I am a huge fan of using and re-purposing vintage pieces. Whether a family heirloom or an antique picked up at a garage sale, older eclectic items provide character and charm. I adore this teapot centerpiece.


Gorgeous chairs, stunning candelabras, and strategic use of colour create a fairytale ambiance.


Its easy to see how the classic and glamorous style of the couple transcended throughout the decor. Lovely.


What would a garden wedding be without a fluffy and delicious cake? The floral details are stunning and I love the cake's vintage look.


Here's to Flowers, Sunshine, and inspirational colour palettes.
Let Wedding Season begin...

Photography by Marie Labbancz of Art of Love via The Bride's Cafe

DIY Invites

Ms. Jordan Ferney's incredibly creative mind never ceases to amaze me.



Today, over at Cookie Magazine's Nesting blog, Jordan's DIY instructions for these perfect Lemonhead baby shower invitations are featured.



Detailed instructions [including sources] are listed on her post found here.


She's brilliant.

I can't wait to put together fun
invites of my own for a wedding shower, baby shower, or a party.
[& I'm already thinking of the various candies I can use
for themed invitations].

Clinking Glassware is so Last Year

We can all recall sitting through Wedding Receptions full of clinking glasses {cringe}. If only I could be a guest at a wedding were the couple offered a Kissing Menu.

This fabulous idea was put together by Kilee of Happy Hour Bride and designed by Heather of We Met in a Bar [yes, I'm a huge fan of her work].

{Kilee's Kissing Menu by Heather}

I love the idea of Guests working for the traditional Wedding Reception kissing show.

The Kissing Menu reminded me of one of my favorite DIY ideas I found on Style Me Pretty a ways back: The Kissing Tree.

{Style Me Pretty}

The Kissing Tree as explained by the Bride who used it:

The kissing tree was an alternative to the clinking of glasses. The guest would approach the tree and pluck off a matchbook (if you look closely it has an embossed smooch on it), then hand it to the MC. He would then read aloud what they had to do to have us kiss. The tasks included…answering Bride and Groom trivia, singing a love song with your table, performing a charade of a “wedding” movie, or demonstrating how we were to kiss by kissing someone else!

The best part: both options are easily altered for each couple and their guests. Options can be catered to the couple's interests and the group dynamic. I can imagine many laughs and a night of entertainment [not to mention eliminating the headaches one endures after a night of glass clinking].

save-the-dates

As previously mentioned, I love unique wording relating to wedding correspondence.

The following Save the Date immediately caught my eye. I love the postcard-style & its colour palette. The message is too sweet:

"He got down on one knee and she said YES"

{How Sweet it is... save the dates by Heather of We Met in a Bar found via Penned and Pretty}

So Cute!

Please take your seat...

Yesterday marked the 6-Month-Count-Down to Ryan and Angela's Wedding. We are moving along according to schedule, having booked all of our venues and vendors. Currently, we're hammering out the smaller details relating to the DIY projects we will be taking on.

As many of our projects require unique materials, we're searching high and low to acquire the right pieces. The rustic and romantic ambiance we strive to achieve will be accomplished through the personalized details catering to Ryan and Angie.

. . .

In the coming weeks I will assemble various options for ceremony and reception decor. Below are several rustic options for our escort cards:

• Left: I love this option from a Victorian & nature inspired wedding {sharing your colour palette} featured on Brooklyn Bride. The understated elegance of the rustic burlap and pretty ribbon have a lovely effect. I see this option within an over sized antique frame [maybe with mini clothes pins?]
• Right: The second ribbon option is equally as stunning. It was used in one of my most favorite weddings ever featured on snippet & ink. I think it might be a perfect solution to mask the 'office window' in our reception entrance. What do you think?

• Left: I've been a fan of the amazing details of this wedding on a The Bride's Cafe for some time. I just adore the look of this vintage door: stunning. [See a close up of the details].
• Right: Always great for inspiration, this knot wedding ingeniously adapted old shutters into an escort card display. How lovely would either option look propped against a wall in the entrance?

• Left & Bottom Right: The following green-inspired options would also work within our space. These Knot weddings one & two use traditional escort cards on beds of fresh grass.
• Top Right: This idea is just one great detail of many from this wedding featured on With This Ring.... The pretty green glass pebbles in flute vases can double as favors.

. . .

Ryan & Angie: I think antique & vintage pieces [whether they be frames, doors, shutters, or window panes] would work perfectly, accentuating the wood prevalent in our venue. The idea of reusing and re purposing items really appeals to me.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Prismera Designs

I couldn't resist posting the beautiful jewelry by Prismera Design I spotted on Something Old, Something New.

{Prismera Design via Something Old, Something New}
Laura, Prismera's designer describes the Hold collection these unique pieces are from:

For this group of work, I focused on a side of love that is often brushed aside in the conceptual aspect of designing jewelry. The Hold Collection is a reminder to cherish the hard times along with the joyous and passionate moments. The culmination of those experiences is what makes our relationships richer and more meaningful.

Not only are these pieces beautiful, they also represent such a thoughtful sentiment. I'd love to don a piece or gift one to a loved one.

Prismera Design offers several other collections that are equally lovely.

The Girl has style

After listening to the song about the girl, don't you wish it was written for you? It's safe to say that you'll also be jealous of this girl's wardrobe.

{Reuters Pictures via Daylife}

Leah Miller, the bubbly host of So You Think You Can Dance Canada and newlywed wife of Dallas Green, has an enviable collection of
gorgeous dresses & fabulous shoes.

Designers, clockwise from top left -
Dolce Gabbana satin bustier with a black taffeta pouf skirt & Manolo Blahkniks with a rhinestone ankle wrap and silk satin front tie ribbon; Coral Herve Leger dress & Miu Miu sequin pumps; Stella McCartney top with a Betsey Johnson crinoline skirt & Guiseppe Zanotti studded pumps; Herve Leger dress & Fendi bow heels.


Usually, I'm not a fan of glittery metallics and satins, however I find these dresses stunning.

Designers, clockwise from top left -
Catherine Malandrino sea green sequin dress & Silver Christian Louboutin pumps; Navy satin Proenza Schuler dress & black patent Jimmy Choos; gold silk lamé Jay Ahr dress & Yves St. Laurent nude platform patent leather pumps; Kate Moss for Top Shop black sequin 'flapper dress' & Fendi strappy black heels.


I love how she wears colour and takes risks that just seem to work. Plus, she's got a great head of hair and wicked legs which also help.

Designers, clockwise from top left:
altered Michael Kors one shoulder turquoise & tortoise Christian Louboutin open toe pumps; Lida Baday polka dot chiffon & Black Gucci pumps with bamboo heel; Robert Rodriguez purple dress & Mui Mui sequin pumps; Betsey Johnson fuchsia shot taffeta party dress & Miu Miu iridescent sequined pumps.


She combines high fashion with vintage style flawlessly; for this reason the following set is my favorite.

Designers, clockwise from top left:
Dolce & Gabanna dress & Christian Louboutin cork and gold heels; charcoal silk with sequin and ostrich feather embellishments by Elijah & Pewter metallic Valentino w/ bow; altered Betsey Johnson lace party dress & Manolo Blahniks with rhinestone band around back and black silk satin tie in front; Herve Leger dress with Fendi black patent open toe pumps with bows.

Designers: Herve Leger one shoulder ‘Flower’ dress & Beige Christian Louboutin pumps; Vintage black cocktail dress with bow & Gold snakeskin Christian Dior heels.



. . .

Any one of these dresses [& fabulous dancing shoes] would be perfect for bridesmaids and wedding guests alike.

{Fashion images courtesy of CTV}

The Girl, City and Colour

Just some Tuesday Tuneage for you.
The following is an ever-so-sweet love song by the fantastically talented Dallas Green of City and Colour and Alexis on Fire. The lyrics will make you smile and the melody will make you want to dance. [Go ahead and do it].

{Dine Alone Records}

I think this song would be great for a first dance, or as processional/ recessional music, given the right couple.

Lyrics:

I wish I could do better by you,
Cause its what you deserve.
You sacrifice so much of your life,
In order for this to work.

While I'm off chasing my own dreams,
Sailing around the world,
Please know that I'm yours to keep,
My beautiful girl.

International Women's Day

OK, I'm a day late.

International Women's Day was officially yesterday, however I wanted to use this month as an excuse to thank the fearless females before me that have paved the way for women's rights and equality.
Don't get me wrong, I know we still have a ways to go. That being said, I think it's so important to look at how far we've come.

{Google Reader via We heart it}

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We'll forever be grateful.

Today [& every day] I tip my hat, salute, bow, and curtsy in acknowledgement of the women in my life that support me professionally and personally.
I am who I am because of you.


Cheers to mothers, sisters, grandmothers, girlfriends, aunts,
women & girls everywhere.

Rock on Sisters.
xo.

Kate Towers

I can't remember where I first found Kate Towers' lovely one-of-a-kind designs but it doesn't matter.

They are beautiful.

Based out of Portland, Kate Towers has created a portfolio that is full of gorgeous pieces. Her designs and custom orders are available online through her etsy shop. The following are a few of my favorites from her Wit & Prim Collection.




{Kate Towers}

I'm in love.

Welcome March

After a great weekend on the coast we're back. It's a beautiful day today and outside my window the sunshine is melting away the snow.
Drip, drip, drip...

This week's agenda is very full [so if I'm a sporadic blogger for the next little while please bare with me].

I have a new job [woot woot], new projects on the go, and new developments with C Star Events. I feel like I need to hit the ground running this week. Perhaps it's because we're losing an hour on Sunday; perhaps because it's almost Spring and I can feel it in my bones.

Drip, drip, drip...

. . .

With Spring in mind, I wanted to share the following DIY project from the fabulous resource Once Wed.


DIY Simple String and Moss Vases


Aren't these fantastic? I love daffodils. To me, the epitomise Spring. However, any spring flowers such as tulips, daisies, or orchids would be equally as pretty.

I think these rustic vases would be quite stunning in clusters as they are here on a wedding table top. They could also double as your favors: guests could each take one home.

. . .

Spring is under three weeks away and I couldn't be more excited.

Drip, drip, drip...