One Stop Shop: CB2

Who doesn't love CB2? They are my "other Ikea"... and much of my own wedding is inspired by their line of lab-vases. What I love about CB2 is that they often assist in illustrating to my brides how a white wedding can be modern and crisp and clean. When I have a bride that is struggling to find her voice in a sea of viable color options... I like to suggest that she not choose one or two or three- rather go with an all white canvas and add punches of colors in her desired intensity. If she decides to go muted, it will come off feminine- bold, it will come off modern, patterned and bold- very ecclectic..... and so- here is my version of a tongue-in-cheek swanky soiree for a young couple that don't take themselves too seriously.... enjoy.

One Stop Shop: Ikea Formal

When I enter Ikea, I feel a sense of excitement that is far different than my other favorite stores- mainly because when I enter, I do not have to calculate the total in my head or decide whether I can afford the single picture frame or the candleholder... no my dear friend Ikea allows me to shop as though I were in the financial state I dream of being in.... Ikea is my little shot of champagne on a beer budget- and for that I am grateful.

I turn to Ikea often when designing weddings. It is great for bulk small vases or textiles- especially for my more modern brides. The first in this little trio is for the gal that wants to go highly sophisticated but stay well within her means... thus the color scheme is black, white, and chartreuse- very modern, yet decidedly timeless. My thoughts were of this bride being practical and opting for a cocktail reception with passed hor deurves rather than a seated dinner or buffet... I imagine this in either an art gallery or a loft space or even a raw urban setting (perhaps a rooftop garden?) The idea is to keep it simple yet refined....

Even when hosting a cocktail reception, it is important to still have an evolution throughout the evening... which can be a little tricky when everything is taking place in ONE location. The way to do this is by building up the story through the use of lighting, menu, and entertainment. Perhaps have a dusk wedding (see eachother before the wedding and get the pictures out of the way, also opt for a day-after photo session)... keep the ceremony simple. I love the idea of the bride wearing the signature chartreuse and her maids in black- skipping the tux for the guys and keeping them in cool and sleek cocktail attire.... The maids carrying callas, the bride carrying phaelenopsis orchids with beargrass loops.... tons of candles everywhere....I love the idea of taking the unity candle concept a bit further (esp at dusk weddings)... by having tapers at all guests' chairs... then during the ceremony, having the bride and groom take their unity candle and light the MOH/Best Man's candles- letting this one flame slowly go down the line and then extend to all of the guests... the symbolism is so moving to see this small flicker make its way thorughout the entire wedding-

Guests are lead to the cocktail reception by luminaries- signature chartreuse drinks, an agressively ecclectic menu cleverly displayed, and a live musician (piano soloist- think Nora Jones or Kate Nash) will set the tone. I really love the idea of having a polaroid station- and at this wedding having clotheslines overhead with tiny black pins to display them "gallery style" works well... just snap, write a message, and then pin it up to display (have someone collect them at the end of the night)

It is always a good idea, if you are going to do something like this, to have SOME SEATING for those elderly guests, pregnant guests, etc. I suggest having a "reserved table" for parents/grandparents/couple... as well as extended seating for about 1/3 of guests. Keep the tables SMALL (about 4-5) to encourage mingling and emphasize the cocktail feel.... As the night draws onward, you can have a couple of stations (pasta, sushi, etc) open for an hour or so... do this tactfully so that not everyone is rushing to the limited seating at once. Keep the hor deurves comming, getting a little heavier now-
***For a wedding of 100, that means about 30 should have a firm seat at a table- which also means that you can splurge a little and get decor for these that you really love, to later transition into your home.

Once the group has mingled and the stations have lost their pizzaz... it is time to get the party started! I LOVE LOVE LOVE a band- but if you must have a dj- opt for lounge/house music for this particular affair. The passed selection should move into lighter and perhaps dessert selections... there should be a change in lighting (from candlelight to bold color shooting up the walls, plants, etc)... Lounge furniture is always a great compliment to your limited seating.... and simple arrangements which use open-bookcases as dividers really make an impact! (Fill the shelves minimally with items from your courtship, framed photos of your guests' weddings, etc)... Hire a performer to keep the energy up (think cirque du soleil or have a sand-artist onsite.... Have stretch fabric overhead here and there, projecting black and whites of your engagement... and end the evening with an unexpected parting gift in leui of favors (think espressos at the valet, individual morning-after packets (aspirin, earplugs and a bottled miniature of the "sig drink" labeled "hair of the dog") at the coatcheck)

The idea with this design is to keep everything manageable.... by cutting the portions, the seating, and perhaps the guestlist- you will save TREMENDOUSLY... less flowers, less linens, less food= less money. But, more importantly, it is about taking a concept and keeping all of the elements in line with that rather than focusing too much on keeping it "wedding-like or bridal"...

One Stop Shop: Anthropologie Offbeat

The last in our little trio on Anthro. will be for the gal who loves this store not only for its gorgeous inventory... but also for its inspiring displays. Lets face it, part of the way that we justify their somewhat hefty pricetags is because of that warm fuzzy feeling we instantly get when we step in- the space is just so inspiring and unexpected...

So while you can definately justify purchasing many of these items for your wedding and then reusing them for your home- a little part of you wants those creative projects that all the brides around the blog-scene drool over....

I suggest that you look towards Anthro's gorgeous window and product displays for inspiration when styling the event.... by mixing highs (beautiful tea cups, platters, and select furniture pieces) with lows:

straw chandliers

straw chargers

mason jar lighting


newspaper (or love letter)space divider/definers


sticks- lots of sticks

You will be able to stay within budget, keep it indicative of YOUR STYLE, and even have a mound of useful pieces for your married life. Perhaps you could have one of the art directors at your local Anthro commissioned to be a part of your team??

Good luck! And for all you IKEA gals- check back later as that will be our next stop in the series....

One Stop Shop: Anthropologie Elegant

When I go to Anthropologie, I know that I am in for a treat- I get that same giddy feeling as when I go to an amazing antique shop... only better because I know that I won't have to hunt to find lovelies- as they are all around me in plain sight. Thus, this little grouping of Anthro-delight aims to show how your wedding can be both indicative of your style AND still remain personal.... it's all about merging who you are with where you've come from, in a celebration of where you are headed!

Sometimes it can be tricky to "try to be sophisticated"... ultimately, we tend to think black ties and formal gowns... but really- a grown-up palette and an dusk ceremony can be enough.... I love using this palette of teals and mushrooms.... it's so very mature yet fresh!

And when you are being so liberal in your bridal party attire, know that there does need to be some cohesiveness to it all- I've opted to really glam up the jewelry and perhaps the shoe selection as well so that long and short dresses give off the same message of formality. I would go with antiqued hydrangeas or queen annes lace handtied in a loose-structure for the bouquets.

For a sophisticated affair, I always urge that the event take place in three stages: the cocktail hour, the dinner, and the dancing. If at all possible, it is nice to have each of these in a different area of your location- as the constant change of senery adds to the drama of the evening and the overall flow of the event.

I like to think of the cocktail hour as an introduction of sorts... it will set the stage for the rest of the evening. Provide lots of conversation starters. Signature drinks, wedding photos of guests, and little pieces of information about the couple are wonderful conversation starters. For the cocktail hour, skip the flowers... focus more on good lighting (remember that guests will be less self-concious in dimmer, more flattering light)... a well-stocked bar... cleverly-packaged appetizers.... and a couple of impactual design elements. Recently, I have renovated an old card catalog cabinet found on ebay. By sprucing up the hardare and adding a runner and a few candles and framed photos, it can be a beautiful focal piece... additionally, I love the idea of using the drawers (some can have as many as a hundred) to house the escort cards.


Elegance is simple. It is unpretentious. It can be relaxed and not stuffy. Such is the case with this table. I envision simple linens, topped with a runner of interesting vases used as pillars for platters to sit atop- what is more grandeure than a family-style feast down a long table? When I watch movies such as Marie Antoinette, I am constantly reminded how much I would LOVE for a bride to skip the whole plated production and flowers ...and have the food right there... for the dinner to extend over an hour with good conversation and amazing food. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to go elegant, I love the idea of having family contribute to a "pot luck" of sorts earlier in the day... then having a waitstaff hired on to keep the drinks filled and the clean-up in order.... by spending your money on beautiful serving pieces rather than flowers and decor, you'll have heirloom pieces for years to come!


And on to dancing (another reason to keep the food seperate from the dancing is that a waitstaff bussing tables is a bit of a mood killer... keep the energy up by leaving the mess behind to really unwind!). I have found that if there are a TON of chairs around for the wallflowers to retreat to, then they will NEVER make it onto the dance floor... but if they've been wined and dined and there is limited seating (more lounge-like) then your older guests will converse and your younger guests will mingle and dance the night away. If dancing is taking place outdoors, I think that the most elegant way to carry on this overall feel, is to bring a piece of elegant furniture outside. Perhaps add a beautiful chandelier draped over the branch of a tree... a rug... a few mis-matched chairs, and a firepit... and you've got yourself a party that's inviting yet refined. Hang a few more of the chandeliers over the dance floor, add a little lighting effects (perhaps drape fabric here and there with par-cans shooting colorful lighting upwards)... and you've set the stagefor an unforgettable affair..

One Stop Shop: Anthropologie Casual

I LOVE the bright hues all over Anthropologie and think that it would be a great source of inspiration for a casual daytime wedding... subdued hues can get washed out by the sunshine of a brunch or mid-day celebration... but these bold gem tones can hold their own against the bright rays.

Now these are dresses that you really CAN wear again! The level of saturation, length, and overall formality are enough to uniform the bridal party without being too matchy-matchy.... and I am LOVING these necklaces, available in a myriad of hues.

Greet guests with a vintage door that has Anthropologie's signature knobs screwed in all over it- each with a small notecard hanging to escort guests to their tables.... (How lovely will these knobs look all around your home after the wedding is over?!)

The idea of infusing your style is not to over-design the space. You probably have already fallen in love with your location for its natural beauty. It's simply a way to bring small touches of personalization to the area... and it is always nice to keep the event cohesive by having a definative thread/message/tone. You can create make-shift seating areas by simply exchanging a few of the rental cushions on chivaris for these.... toss a few pillows onto any rented or pre-existing lounge furniture or benches... hang a few brightly colored chandeliers from the trees or indoor rafters.... Take photos from your engagement session and have them enlarged and then matted atop GORGEOUS sheets of wallpaper, placed in an ornate frame.


You don't need to go overboard on the tables with mounds of flowers to bring in color. I love the idea of crisp white linens and a runner made of varying heights of candleabras, votives, and candle sticks. Frame the table number in a pretty frame and hang a few lamp-shades overhead (with lantern light kits) for simple but oh-so-chic style!

Even if you are opting for a buffet or plated dinner.... I always suggest a station or two later in the night. Sometimes guests just need a break from dancing and thus it is nice to have some sort of interactive entertainment for them. If your guests are not much for coffee... try an exotic tea station... if your event is going into the wee hours, opt for a breakfast food station.... And here is where you can actually splurge a little and get those oh-so-amazing bowls or tea sets that go PERFECT with the event. Typically, only about half of the guests will utilize the station- and when it is all over, a set of these make PERFECT bridal party gifts!

The idea is that you can start with what you already know about your design aesthetic... and go from there- what I love most about a wedding being reflective of your design is that when it is all over- you don't have yards of tulle or hundreds of tiny boxes in the shape of wedding cakes- you have pieces that can easily be reworked and recycled into your home and lifestyle...

One Stop Shop...

Sometimes I feel that the biggest hurdle to overcome when helping brides plan a wedding is getting them to understand that their wedding style is NOT mutually exclusive from their personal style. For some reason, when the words design and wedding enter into the same context, there seems to be these weird undertones that arise, where who we are and who we think we should be somehow seem to be worlds apart. When I think of my own brides and their designs, I try to encourage them to style their wedding the same way that they would style their home or their wardrobe... it is all about taking elements that are already in place and then turning them into a celebration. Typically, one of my first questions that I ask when we start discussing the design is not what colors they like or what flowers they adore... it's "If you could have a shopping spree at any store... which would it be?"

And so brings us to the first in a series of posts on "One Stop Shopping"... the concept is simple enough... I am going to attempt to show how an entire event could be pulled from ONE STORE... I'll post a casual/sophisticated/offbeat version from each... and hopefully this little exercise will encourage each of you to stop seeking inspiration in tired wedding shops... and start searching your own style!