INSPIRATION: Pink, Black and Platinum...oh my!

It's been a while since I've found images of our colors that wowed me.  Our colors are pink, black and platinum and while pink and black seems to be hot now, it's often paired with white.  I came across this picture and immediately fell in love! Check out how they use the platinum for a little (not not too much) bling effect...

Photo credit: http://www.weddingplanningadvice.net

INSPIRATION: Pretty in Pink

Pink is my favorite color.  Here's how pink goes sophisticated for a wedding...

Candy Buffets Make Every One Smile!

Candy Buffets are all the rage in weddings these days. candy buffets range from very simple and sweet to elegant displays that would make anyone's jaw drop in awe.

What I love love about candy buffets is that there is so much you can do with a small budget. I think that a candy hour could even replace a cocktail hour and be a lot less expensive. Of course, they can be incorporated into the reception as well but the point is here the options are wide with a candy buffet.

Here is how to execute a simple candy buffet, its as easy as 1-2-3!

Decide When
When will you display your sweet assortment? In lieu of a traditional cocktail hour, at the wedding itself or at the reception? You can use a candy buffet to "buy time". For example, if you have a late afternoon wedding you might have a candy buffet selection prior to the nuptials. Giving guests time to satisfy their sweet tooth while the wedding party gets ready. The choice is up to you. Whenever during your big day that you place your candy buffet be sure to allow time for the guests to enjoy it and even possibly provide small bags or boxes that guests can take home a few of their favorite treats.

Color & Style
How sweet would it be to infuse your wedding colors into your buffet? Red and white wedding? Then you will have all red and white candy. A color themed candy buffet is both creative and eye catching. Or, you can do certain candy types like candy found at a movie theater, nostalgia candy, etc... It's your wedding, have fun with it!

Presentation
A final note to consider is how you want your buffet to look. You can have a big round table or several rectangle tables. You can use glass or porcelain to display your candy. You can use small chalk board signs to let guests know the type of candy displayed or small tent cards.

The best thing about a candy buffet is that there really are no rules. This is a modern trend with not rooted in tradition, so you don't "have to" do things a certain way.

Need inspiration for your candy buffet? Look no further...

Source: http://budgetdreamweddings.com/2077

Source: http://budgetdreamweddings.com/2077

Source: http://www.weddingmanor.com/new_wedding_items.html

Source: http://www.big-wedding-tiny-budget.com

Source: http://www.weddingbee.com

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.christinascreativeplanning.com

10.7.10 INSPIRATION: Champagne Reception

On a budget? Check out this great idea for a simple but fun reception courtesy of Project Wedding. I love this because it goes to show that you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding. Remember, a wedding is a celebration of love not a means to go broke.

For the complete story visit: http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/create-a-simple-champagne-reception

INSPIRATION: Creativity & Style

There is A LOT of inspiration on this blog! Check it out!

I've had about 10 tabs open on my browser for the past week of wonderful wedding ideas that I kept telling myself I would look at it later.  Well, now is later and the creativity behind some of the wedding ideas is truly amazing.

A wedding is one of the few times where its perfectly acceptable and expected for it to be all about you. I think that's exactly what a wedding should be, it would be fake if it wasn't.  There are many color schemes and themes that are not my style but I can't help but to admire how well done it is, making for a fab shindig.  I'm also learning how lighting done right can be a beautiful yet inexpensive way to decorate any venue.  So here's what I've seen around the web that I think is beautiful. 

Courtesy of: http://encoreevents.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

More pink/black/platinum inspiration

9.5.2010 Diary: No Thank You...We Will Pass On Your Advice...

That's what my gf said when I presented her with the idea of having a bowl asking for people to give advice to the newly married couple (us, of course) at our wedding.  This was so funny to me simply because whenever I ask my gf a question, I rarely get a definitive yes or no.  It's usually, "whatever you want to do, babe", but when I asked her about this I got a loud and clear "NO!"  LOL!

I was inspired by the picture on the right, which I thought was a good idea. But my gf clearly pointed out that most people in her family aren't in happy relationships and/or are on marriage #3.  And I can honestly say that most people in my family aren't in relationships, period.  As the saying goes, never take advice from anyone you wouldn't want to trade places with.  Asking someone who never had a strong, happy and fruitful relationship about how to have a great marriage is like asking a poor man how to be rich.  I still think this is a great idea, especially if you have people whom you know can provide good insight and tips.  But for our wedding, it's a no-go.

But here are some ideas that we plan on using:

What an awesome idea!  A coloring book for the kiddies to give them something to do...if even for just a few minutes.
Of course, the cover would be different!  But this is genius and simple!

These are memory candles. What an awesome way to honor the memory of loved ones who have departed.  I want to do this in honor of my mom.  I figure we can do a few and my sisters and brothers can each take one.

All photos courtesy of: http://blog.splendidweddingco.com

INSPIRATION: PINK & BLACK = MARVELOUS!

Photo courtesy of: http://blog.splendidweddingco.com

9.1.2010 Diary: "You're A Prepared Bride"

That's what I was told when we went to the Dandelion Patch to look at save-the-date cards.  We wound up going on Monday instead of Saturday.  We didn't make an appointment as they advise, we just walked in and looked through a few books.  They had about five or six bookshelves full of binders with invitation samples. I didn't see any invitations that featured a same-sex wedding...maybe that was in a different book. But I digress.  I can see how people can get overwhelmed with the simple task of picking out invitations.

We saw a few we liked.  I would prefer our save-the-dates be something that people won't be inclined to just toss after they read it, something memorable.  My thought was a bookmark, but my gf came up with an even better idea, magnets!  So as things go we are now on the hunt for save-the-date magnets!

While at the Dandelion Patch one of the consultants asked our wedding date, I replied 2012.  Another bride says to me "you're a prepared bride!"  I would like to hope that is the case.  We have plenty of time but yet time flies so I am going to get busy creating my time line for the wedding, which I will let me know what I should be doing and when. 

But back the magnets. Etsy, a favorite online shopping portal of mine has some great indie stuff. I found some cool magnets at a much lower cost than the save-the-dates we were looking at.  Here are a few pictures:

There are so many to choose from.  What's your favorite?

8.27.10 Diary: Wedding Colors, Invitations and All That Jazz...

Love this idea for
the ceremony!

Not exactly sure how many months we've been "wedding planning" but there's just one thing we have come to a definitive conclusion about, our wedding colors.  Pink, platinum and black.  I'm a pink fan and my gf is a blue fan.  We both decided that pink and blue may be a hard sell for a wedding.  A baby shower, it could work.  But not for our wedding at least.  So, since Tee's second favorite color is black we went with that.  Platinum is a neutral ground for both of us.  I envision those colors working very well together.  So I am excited!

In my conversation today, I told Tee that we could "minimize" the black in the color scheme.  Oh, why did I say that? LOL.  She's not a fan of that idea at all. She went on about how I'm trying to minimize her part in the wedding planning and that leave it to me it will be an all pink wedding. Smh.  Women!  Now, by no means am I seeking to minimize her contribution or ideas; I think that the 3 colors are beautiful together, but they all have a specific role to play.  Too much black and it looks like a funeral, too much pink a baby or bridal shower.  But Tee wasn't trying to hear it.  So, we decided to start looking at inspiration to show us how the 3 colors will play together so we both are happy with the end result.

Compromise is a lot of work!  But worth it.  Here are few pictures I snagged online that have the pink/black/platinum theme:

Pictures courtesy of weddingwire.com, partywarehouse.co.nz and projectwedding.com

We will be heading over to the Dandelion Patch on Saturday to get some ideas for invitations.  The Dandelion Patch participated in the June 6th, Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo we hosted so we will support their business and we invite you to do the same.  They have two locations one in Reston, Va and the other in Vienna.  If you are not nearby I believe you can order online as well.


Since we have a 2012 wedding, I'm thinking that we may start with a "save the date", doesn't make sense sending out invites this year or next.  My resolve is to make this process fun and exciting.  I hate to see when people get all stressed over wedding planning, I don't think that's fair to them or their partner.  It's a celebration after all! 

I'm looking forward to visiting the Dandelion Patch tomorrow!

INSPIRATION: How Can You NOT Love This?

I love information.  I mean magazines, books, websites, you name it...I'm absorbing the information like a sponge!  I like to gather a lot of information, concepts, ideas analyze it and then make a decision.  Which is why I will post a lot of pictures and things that inspire me.  So when I saw this, I couldn't help but to post!

Ladies and gentlemen. This is truly art.  Art invokes emotion and even though some styles don't suit me I can still appreciate the beauty and work that went into creating them.  All of the pictures above are from kio creations, an event planning company in Naperville, IL.  Kio Kreations is a creative services company specializing in floral design, graphic design and out-of-the-box thinking.  They do so much more you just have to check out their website and learn more about them!

I wonder what the market is for same-sex weddings in IL?  It would be great to chat with the brain behind kio creations and learn more about what they do and their experience with same-sex weddings.  An interview coming soon?