THE BRIDE'S CAFE

"A Few of My Favorite Things"

On my way home from work yesterday, I stopped by Panera to grab a quick bite to eat.....sitting across from me were three very pretty young ladies with tons of bridal magazines and their laptops...it was apparent that someone was newly engaged and planning their wedding.  I couldn't help but listen to their conversation..all so happy and truly having a great time...and then it happened...I could see The Bride's Cafe on the computer screen!  How exciting...you know I wanted to get up and do the "happy dance"...they had such lovely things to say about the "cafe"...I waited a few minutes and I went over and introduced myself and gave them all a business card...they were all so tickled and they asked me to join them...they wanted to know what were my favorite things about weddings...SO...here are "A Few of My Favorite Things"....let me know what's yours.....and thanks to my three new friends for the inspiration for today's feature...xoxoxo

 

"Shorter Length Bridal Dresses" (image courtesy of Melissa Jill)

 

"Wearing sexy shoes on your wedding day"! (image courtesy of Laura Novak)

 

"Guys wearing cool socks"!  (image courtesy of Mi Belle Inc)

 

"Carnations....I love them clustered together"(image courtesy of Kate Headley)......AND...

 

"Baby's Breath"! (image courtesy of Leigh Miller)

  

"Beautiful Ribbon"! (image courtesy of Meg Smith)

 

"Chic hair pieces and veils"! (image courtesy of Anna Kuperberg)

  

"Photo Booths"! (image courtesy of Meg Smith)

   

"Fun foods and desserts"! (images courtesy of Sherman Chu)

 

(image courtesy of Isabel Lawrence)

 

"Bicycles....I love them"! (image courtesy of Kate Headley)

 

"Candy Stations"! (image courtesy of Stephanie Williams)

 

"Black and White images...I love the vintage feel to them"! (image courtesy of Elizabeth Messina)

Weddings Unveiled Magazine

Happy Friday Guys....I am so happy that the weekend is here and even though I have a ton of work ahead of me.....I have made a promise to myself to take a little "ME TIME" to curl up on the couch with my blanket...candles lit.....my cup of tea....and a copy of Weddings Unveiled Magazine.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Weddings Unveiled, let me give you a little "411" on this beautiful magazine.

Weddings Unveiled sprang from the minds of Terri Lambert, wedding planner and Brooke Thomas, fashion photographer.  These beautiful ladies are both natives of  the South.  They imagined a beautiful magazine reflective of the South's modern sophisticate with a fresh, edgy  take on classic style.  The result proved to be the most exciting, talked-about wedding publication in the South by brides and wedding professionals alike.  Weddings Unveiled is everything weddings with vivid imagery, lush editorials, incomparable fashion and a sophisticated manner that appeals to intelligent, modern brides.

Guys...you will absolutely love Weddings Unveiled....it is truly a sophisticated and edgy magazine and I love the sleek look and design of it....hurry over and check out their blog site...it's a wonderful extension of  the magazine!

Terri and Brooke sent over copies of Weddings Unveiled to share with the wonderful and fabulous TBC readers....SO....leave me a comment letting me know what's on your agenda for the weekend...I will randomly select the WINNERS and announce them on Monday evening....have a wonderful weekend guys!!

Oh, My Deer!...Meet Chelsea Petaja

I am so excited about today's featured guest....the beautiful and oh-so-sweet, Chelsea Petaja of Oh, My Deer!  I LOVE Chelsea's beautiful handmade hair adornments.....she is such a talented lady....make sure you visit her Etsy shop and check out all of her gorgeous handmade designs! I had the opportunity to interview Chelsea so let's find out a little bit about the woman behind the beautiful designs...Enjoy! 

 Meet Chelsea...isn't she beautiful!

TBC:  How did you come up with the name "Oh, My Deer"!

CP:  I've always been a sucker for a good play-on-words, and "Oh, My Deer" was born out of that love.  "Oh, My Deer" struck me as I was driving home from work, completely out of the blue, before I had any use for the name. It wasn't until I opened my Etsy shop that I finally had a reason to dub something with it!

TBC:  Describe your client.

CP:  An "Oh, My Deer" client is a woman who delights in fashion and isn't intimidated by size, color, or feathers.  HA!

TBC:  What are the 3 adjectives that describe your style?

CP:  A wife, a sister, a daughter and a friend...Wait...those aren't adjectives, are they?  And that's four, not three...Sorry!

     

TBC:  What inspires you as a designer?

CP:  I'm fascinated by anything with a history and tiny treasures.  Often a piece will start out with a vintage button or brooch or earrings, and then the adornment will follow suit.  I also have a love/hate relationship with birds, so feathers have a huge influence on several pieces as well.

TBC:  What tips can you share with our readers when selecting their hair accessories?

CP:  Make sure that it's something that will make you feel beautiful.  With every piece, I hope that whoever ends up wearing it feels even more incredible with her little lady nestled in her hair.

TBC:  Do you design custom pieces?

CP:  The majority of the pieces I've made have been custom orders.  And rightfully so...many of my customers are brides with specific ideas and themes and colors that they want echoed in their piece.

 

Chelsea and her husband Tec...Tec is an amazing photographer..check out his site!

TBC:  Describe a day in the life of Chelsea.

CP:  Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, you can find me teaching Visual Arts at a Montessori school here in Nashville.  My evenings and weekends are crucial for me to catch up on emailing, working on pieces, and perusing the local flea markets for the latest pin or earrings that will start or finish the perfect piece.

TBC:  Tell us a little about your personal life.

CP:  The largest development in my life recently has been my marriage.  We were married in June, so these past few months have been devoted to learning how to live with each other and getting used to each other's quirks, that have only now become evident!  It's been a wild, but incredible ride!

Thanks SO much Chelsea for stopping by the cafe today and sharing a "peek" into your world with us!  Okay Guys...I'm sure all of you are fans of Kathryn's beautiful blog......Snippet & Ink (I know I am)....well she has hosted a contest all this week and one lucky Snippet & Ink reader won one of Chelsea's beautiful hair adornments......I'm excited to let you know that Chelsea is giving a lucky TBC reader a chance to win one as well...all you have to do is check out the collection on Chelsea's site and leave a comment on TBC letting me know the name of  your favorite...sorry...BUT...you can't select Miss Loretta...she's taken...the winner will be announced on Monday morning!

 

"Miss Lucille"

 

"Miss Lula"

 

"Miss Nina"

Meet Victoria - Real Bride-To-Be

Happy Friday Guys........Meet Victoria...our Real Bride-To-Be...I'm so happy to have her as our guest today for our "RBTB" feature.  Victoria & Will are getting hitched August 15, 2009 in New York City and although her wedding is a "few" months away...Victoria is not wasting anytime with all the planning...let's check out what she's been up to!

Victoria...our "Real-Bride-To-Be" and her fiancé......Will!  Aren't they a cute couple and I'm loving them in red!

TBC:  What has been the most fun part in the planning process?

Victoria:  Designing my own DIY projects.  I designed my own save-the-dates, escort cards, favors, table names and guest card book.  We will have a 2-year engagement, so I have the time to think about all kinds of ways to be creative.  I also love reading the blogs and magazines.  It is such a special state to be in, to be engaged, because there is all this excitement and anticipation and dreaming.  It is also special for me because when we get married it will be the first time in 5 years that Will and I will actually live in the same place (we have been dating long-distance most of our relationship).

TBC:  Who has been the most helpful to you with the planning?

Victoria:  The blogs!  I decided not to hire a wedding planner, and I live in Iowa City right now, far from my mom in New Jersey and my twin sister in North Carolina, and Will in Mississippi.  All of them are in very practical professions (nurse, lawyer, pilot), so I have had to find creative inspiration in magazines and on the web.  But it has been a lot of fun!  I am a writer, so thinking artistically, in terms of event planning and visuals, has allowed me to be creative in new ways.  I recently decided to start my own blog, Victoria with Roses, because I had so much fun reading other wedding blogs, and so much wedding inspiration that unfortunately won't make it into my wedding.

TBC:  How did you find your vendors?

Victoria:  Our church is Will's childhood church, so it was important to him to have our ceremony there.  We splurged a little on a choir for the ceremony, which we arranged through the church (this is the one element of my wedding I have dreamed about since I was little).  And although I looked at dozens of reception spaces, we knew all along we would get married in The Harvard Club, because it has the most beautiful architecture , dark wood and high ceilings.  Besides this, I did almost all of my planning long distance!  Will is from New York and I am from New Jersey, so we decided to  have a New York City wedding to make it easy for relatives to drive in and friends to fly in.  The best resource for New York vendors, I found, was New York Weddings Magazine.  They publish vendor price ranges on-line, so we could see who we could afford (it is time-consuming to call vendors and find out how much they charge).  This is where we found our videographer, Wilson Fontaine; photographer, Joel Greenberg; and DJ, Trevor Davison Entertainment.  We are also using musicians from Julliard for a jazz trio during the cocktail hour, and for piano during dinner, which I heard about through word of mouth.

TBC:  Please share a few "wedding tips" for the Brides-To-Be.

Victoria:  You will have all kinds of crazy ideas, but wait a week or so before putting them into action to make sure they are right, or affordable enough, or fit into your theme (having a theme first is so helpful!).  For a while, I wanted to have a dove release (too extravagant since we are also having a military sword arch); a silhouette artist (too expensive); and even a hot-air-balloon getaway (when we were considering a Maryland wedding).  But now I'm glad I didn't book these things!  Also, if you have time, DIY is not only less expensive, but it allows you to get EXACTLY what you want.

TBC:  Any DIY projects you would like to share.

Victoria:  We are trying to interpret the vintage theme within the context of our careers.  So, we are incorporating airplanes/military (Will is a pilot) and typewriters (for my writing).  My save-the-date cards were inspired by Ceci New York design (which were too expensive for us to afford).  They are inside a brown sleeve that says "Save the Date".  Inside is a white card tied on the end with a hemp cord.  The cards says: How to Tie a Knot, and has a three-step drawing from an old boy scout book.  The back of the card is simple, with just our name, wedding date, and website.  Everything is in typewriter font, and our envelopes are brown kraft envelopes with typewritten address labels and a vintage-looking stamp I made from Zazzle (a photo of Will sitting on the wing of an old airplane).

Another DIY is that our table names will be names of vintage airplanes, which will each have an 8x10 black and white photo of the airplane. Also, I found a vintage hat box from the 1850's in a thrift shop in Iowa City that we are using as our envelope box for the gift table.

TBC:  Do you have any money saving tips that were a huge help to you?

Victoria:  Instead of bouquets, I decided to give each of my 8 bridesmaids a single long-stemmed yellow rose, tied with vintage lace ribbons.  Not only is it inexpensive, but it is a little more unique.  In addition, I bought my dress in Iowa, where prices are half that they are in New York!  I also designed my save-the-date cards with a designer from a print/copy shop in Iowa, had them printed, but assembled them myself.  They were half-DIY this way, so they were less expensive, and I got to make sure they looked exactly they way I wanted.  Another big money saver is that we decided to hire Julliard students for our cocktail music, and save money by booking a DJ instead of  a band.  Our theme is vintage, so when I found out that the Trevor Davison Orchestra has DJs also (which specializes in swing/big band music), it was perfect.

TBC:  What part of the planning has your fiance been most helpful to you?

Victoria:  He has just been a big source of support and patience.  He doesn't have a lot of time to take on projects because of his job, but he is always willing to listen to my ideas (even if it takes hours!).  He was also the one who encouraged me to start my own blog.  Mostly, he tells me I'm beautiful and that he can't wait to marry me, and that's the best part.

TBC: What is your favorite TBC feature?

Victoria:  I love the Real Weddings section!  Amanda & Dan's wedding in a February post was one of my favorites!

Thanks Victoria for stopping by the cafe today and good luck with everything...we can't wait to see all the beautiful images next year!

Guys if you or someone that you know would like to be featured in our "Real Bride-To-Be" segment...please email me at: janie @ jmflora dot com...I look forward to hearing from you....check back later for another TBC feature "Hot off the Press"!!

Rebecca Thuss: Part II

Welcome back to Part 2 of our interview with Rebecca Thuss.  If you are just joining us, please check out Part 1 of Rebecca's interview.....Rebecca is such an awesome stylist and she brings SO much inspiration to all of us...I constantly refer to her work for inspiration and I'm sure you all do as well...let's get inspired with "Rebecca's Styling"......Enjoy!

Our featured guest...Rebecca Thuss!

TBC:  What has been the highlight of your career to date?

RT:  I feel that I was lucky to have many successes during my ten years at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, so I can think of many highlights.  What continues to stick with me is the influence I was able to have on the wedding industry.  I love that so many of my ideas and the things that I have created appear all over the place, inspiring events and product ideas.  I feel proud that much of what I created while at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia still has longevity, and still inspires people currently.  It is such a lovely feeling to inspire others with my ideas.

TBC:  What is the definition of beauty to you?

RT:  I find that there are certain truths in beauty that I always respond to and cannot seem to define with words.  Simply stated, beauty to me is the elusive quality of a moment or an object that resonates and creates a feeling of wellbeing or happiness within me. To view something I find beautiful puts me at ease, inspires me, makes me feel all is right with the world, it moves me.

There are certain color combinations, certain objects, and certain flowers that always make me go weak in the knees.  Why do any of us prefer a peony to a rose, or chartreuse over baby blue?  I do think that the beauty we respond to around us represents so much about who we truly are.  However, as I grow and change, new things become more beautiful to me, and other things less so, and I don't think you can always define why that happens.

TBC:  What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

RT:  Definitely candy, sweets and odd objects.  In the past two years since I left Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, I have moved from styling to shooting, and I find I continue to enjoy photographing the same things that I love to "style".....candy, sweets, odd objects!  In addition, I really love photographing people, I find it to be so different from still life (obviously) but I revel in its differences. 

TBC:  Tell us a little about your personal life.

RT:  My personal life and work life are hardly separate.  I love to throw parties of any size.  I love to shop and search for wonderful products and small stores...especially when traveling.  I do a lot of cooking and often wish I were professionally trained!  I love to get stuck on eBay for hours at a time, bidding on tiny strange things.  I love to add to my many collections.  I adore spending time with my family.  I am restless....always wanting more, and I long for more space, a vegetable garden, and a speckled horse to ride.

Cookie Buffet (photography by Anna Williams....Martha Stewart Weddings)

"I love favors that feel personal and I like creating ideas inspired by family...especially for a wedding.  Simple self serve cookie jars filled with family favorites...Easy!  From a Martha Stewart Weddings story I created about cookie favors."

L-O-V Bouquet (photography by Sang An....Martha Stewart Weddings)

"Woodland ideas still inspire me, despite how trendy the vibe is.  I created this many years ago for a story in Martha Stewart Weddings on Lily of the Valley."

LEMONS (photography by Frank Heckers....Martha Stewart Weddings)

"Non-floral centerpieces always inspire me.  I had sugared lemons in compotes at my own wedding and this is a fun variation.  This idea could be re-created with any color ribbon and any type of fruit.  This single color variation I created for a story in Martha Stewart Weddings about ribbon has a strong color impact."

Feather Bouquet (photography by Sang An...Martha Stewart Weddings)

"While at MSW, I created this huge fresh flower dictionary based on color.  Alongside the flower images, we featured some color focused bouquets.  I had found the soft feathers months before the shoot, and had been waiting to pair them with something great.  The small blush and peach roses were a perfect match.  I was so happy we were able to find a peachy freckled model and loved the way the shot turned out."

Simple Dress (photography by ThussFarrell)

"One of our favorite images from a Simple Silhouettes ads campaign."

TASTY (photography by ThussFarrell)

"We have an on-going still life series Patrick and I are working on that is called "Tasty-Debris".  Fun ice cream shots paired up with the melted remains of the same ice cream in an urban setting.  We are having fun with it and would like to have a gallery show someday.  This is one of the "before" shots of an orange sherbet brick."

BETHANY AND DUSTIN (photography by ThussFarrell)

"From a series of portraits of couples that Patrick and I are working on."

Rebecca, THANK YOU for a wonderful and fun interview...it has been so much fun getting to know you and showcasing your work for all the TBC readers has truly been a joy!  We all thank you for all the beautiful inspiration you have given us and we wish you and Patrick continued success...xoxo!

"Style with Rebecca Thuss"

I am SO excited and SO honored to have as TBC's featured guest today, the beautiful and incredibly talented....Rebecca Thuss.  Rebecca is an award winning photo stylist, creative director, wedding designer and crafter.  Rebecca's work is AMAZING and I'm pretty sure it's been featured on every wedding blog in some form or fashion...she is truly an inspiration to all of us!  During her tenure with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (1996 - 2006) Rebecca became Style Director in 2003 for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and she was the Editor and Style Director of the premiere issue of Blueprint magazine. 

Currently, Rebecca and her husband Patrick are partners in the photography and graphic design firm...ThussFarrell.  I am excited to share with you that ThussFarrell will launch a letterpress wedding invitation line in the Spring of 2009 AND they are working on the launch of their new blog.....I can't wait for that!!  I also want to share with you that Rebecca is so very sweet and just a wonderful lady.....and I am so glad that she took time out to be here with us today....let's check out Part 1 of our 2 Part feature....so without further ado...I give you Rebecca...Enjoy!

The beautiful Rebecca Thuss!

TBC:  Describe the Rebecca Thuss Style.

RT:  I think there are certain influences that show themselves again and again in my work.  A "vintage-carnival" meets "old-candy-shop" meets "Japanese-inspired" meets "rustic-farm" meets "quirky-yet-refined-yet-I-wish-I was-more-edgy vibe".  I like contrast, when clean meets dirty, and off-ness, yet I equally love peaceful moments and precision and balance.  I enjoy visual contradictions.

TBC: Who or what are your influences?

RT:  So many things influence me; inspiration is a part of every moment of my life.  Of course there are the usual suspects: nature, fashion, food, and travel.  I adore food packaging, candy packaging, anything yummy and fanciful, especially from other countries.  My ever-growing magazine and book collection is a constant resource for me as well.

I love pouring over vintage magazines from the 40's, 50's and 60's - the type, the ads, and the images.  I have some favorites  from Paris that I never get tired of.  Really anything can inspire me...even a piece of crumpled trash.  I feel the best ideas come from unexpected places when you have your eyes open.

TBC:  What are your biggest challenges, if any, when designing?

RT:  I am blessed and cursed with a mind that runs a mile a minute once ideas are flowing.  I find my biggest challenge is editing myself down to a manageable load no matter what the project is.  I find I tend to take every idea I have and can't help myself from thinking, what if I make it bigger, or turn it upside down, or make it pink, or add a feather, etc.  I drive myself crazy!  I am a perfectionist and I struggle with this blessing/curse as well.

TBC:  Do you ever get "styling block"?

RT:  Yes of course!  I often feel a "block" at the start of a project actually.  Something about the starting point that feels so big, at times I almost feel blank at first.  Then I just find an entry point, a small idea I can start with, and pretty quickly the floodgates open.  The irony is that then there are way too many ideas and I can't stop them from coming.  I find myself overwhelmed with too many options and possibilities.  I always feel like I have to try something before I can determine if it will work or not, to see it in action to define it's success if you will.

TBC:  Describe a day in your professional life.

RT:  I feel very lucky to be self-employed and work with my husband Patrick.  We start our morning with our "coffee meeting", and sometimes we try to stop working (emphasis on try!) for an actual sit-down lunch.  The downside of being in business with your spouse is that work never really stops, so we tend to work all day every day because we are passionate and can't help ourselves.

Each day is different, and I enjoy that.  Some days I'll spend time looking for inspiration and working on art direction concepts for our various design and branding projects.  Some days I am shooting, some I am styling, or running around propping and shopping.  I love the diversity. I have so many business ideas, product ideas, book ideas, and not nearly enough time for development!

And now let's check out "Rebecca's Styling"

Rebecca Thuss Portfolio Book Opener (photography by ThussFarrell)

"This is the opening page of my styling portfolio....I brought the fabric in Paris and the cones are covered in vintage paper napkins tied up with my absolute favorite Italian cotton ribbon from Carta, Inc. "

Blossom Boxes (photography by James Baigrie....Martha Stewart Weddings)

"This is one of my favorite favor ideas.  It was featured in my Martha Stewart Wedding's column.  I used pop dots...a little foam adhesive discs under the punched and rubber stamped flower shapes to raise them up to convey the feeling of sprinkled  blossoms.  My inspiration was the ground under a cherry blossom tree."

 

Red Lanterns (photography by Sang An...Martha Stewart Weddings)

"One of my favorite shots in my styling portfolio from Martha Stewart Weddings.  I used long strips of ripped silk shantung wrapped around basic cylinders....secured with small hidden safety pins.  It can be a very cost effective centerpiece vessel idea and I have replicated it many times in many different patterns and colors for events and parties."

Playing House (photography by ThussFarrell)

"From our Thussfarrell chapter in the book Lines & Shapes, Volume 2.  We were so happy to be included in this inspiring series of books.

Paper Desserts (photography by ThussFarrell)

"This is an all paper dessert buffet I designed for a Simple Silhouettes shoot last season.  It turned out just like I imagined it."

Paper Fans (photography by ThussFarrell)

"Another set from our Simple Silhouettes shoot last season.  I especially love how the giant fans turned out.  The huge white and black one in the back is made from almost a full roll of wallpaper."

Megan (photography by ThussFarrell)

"From a portrait series...I adore the movement in Megan's hair."

Dishes Tied (photography by ThussFarrell)

"A recent still life from our portfolio."

Thanks Rebecca for stopping by the cafe......we all love your work and it was SO much fun getting to know you...check back later guys for Part 2 of our interview with Rebecca...trust me...you don't want to miss it!

"Design Style" with Joy Thigpen

Earlier today I featured a beautiful wedding captured by the incredibly fabulous photographer Joy Thigpen.....well, what you may not know is that Joy is also an interior designer.  I am so blessed to feature so many amazingly talented photographers at TBC and I am happy to say that I have chatted with most of them...I'm a big fan of email...but a bigger fan of picking up the phone and chatting with the person.....I admit.....I'm from "the old school".....ANYWAY....I always wonder about the design style of their home or studio.....so with Joy being an interior designer, I asked her to share a few images with us of her favorite rooms in her home...this way we can get to know the woman "behind the lens" a little better...let's check it out!!

BEAUTIFUL!!!  I love the sunny and bright color palettes...how inviting...Joy told me that she was actually sending me the images sitting on the couch in her living room....I could just sit there all "blogging"!!

I'm a huge fan of yellow and green and the prints are perfect!

I was happy to see Joy has fresh flowers in her home...they make the room "smile"!

And this cute little girl is Joy's daughter...River...she's having big fun!

And this is River's room....how cute...perfect for a little princess!

Joy...thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us today...this has really been so much fun...we look forward to your next TBC visit!!

"Real Brides-To-Be"

Happy Friday Guys....TBC has a new feature....it's called "Real Brides-To-Be".....this feature was given to me by the fabulous floral designer, Minie of Wish! Flowers....thanks Minie!!....I will introduce you to a "Real Bride-To-Be" and she will share some of her wedding planning tips and "finds" with us....this will be a fun way for TBC's fabulous readers to help each other while planning their special day...so let's get started and have fun!

Meet Kelly...our "Real Bride-To-Be" and her fiancé....Paul.  Their wedding date is November 8, 2008 in Richmond, VA. 

TBC:  What has been the most fun part about planning your wedding?

Kelly:  Dress shopping!  I love to shop as it is (much to Paul's concern), so trying on all those amazing dresses was like my "super bowl"!  I also have really enjoyed collaborating with my Mom on all of our DIY projects.  My parent's basement has become a wedding zone with all of our crafting.

TBC:  What has been the best source for you in finding your vendors?

Kelly: Without a doubt, wedding blogs!!  A year ago I didn't even know about the blog world and now...I'm obsessed!!  Upon finding the Bride's Cafe, I could not believe I had such an amazing florist in my area!  And through the Bride's Cafe, I found Eleise Theuer, my photographer.  I also found my calligrapher who is based out of NYC and my invitation letterpress studio that is located in Washington State....all through blogs.  It is amazing how blogs have expanded my network and exposed me to such a wide variety of vendors that I would have never known about.

TBC:  Who has been the most helpful to you during your planning process and why?

Kelly:  Having great vendors!  I spent hours and hours researching venues, photographers, and so on before I selected any and it has really paid off.  For example, my reception venue, The Jefferson Hotel, takes care of so many details and I'm confident that the food and services will be amazing.  And probably the most quintessential example is my florist, Janie Medley!  She has the same vision for the wedding as me and I know she truly wants my wedding to be special and spectacular. Knowing that I love and trust all of my vendors is very comforting and has caused the planning process to run smoothly.

TBC:  What 3 adjectives describe your wedding?

Kelly:  Whimsical....Classic....and Fun!

TBC:  What aspect of the wedding planning has Paul been involved with?

Kelly:  Paul has been the perfect fiancé in my opinion because he lets me take creative control in pretty much all aspects of  the wedding.  He is very easy going and is aware of how long I've been dreaming about this wedding, so he is content to let me plan and execute the wedding details to my heart's content.  I think his greatest contribution though is that he has been a great sounding board for all of my ideas.  I email/call him all day long to get his feedback and to make sure I haven't gone too crazy.  He did partake in the menu/cake tasting and was a big help in making those selections, and he is always available to run wedding errands with me.  When I asked him what aspects he thought he had helped with the most, he replied that he was paying for the honeymoon! :)

TBC:  Please share a "Kelly Wedding Planning Tip".

Kelly:  Start early and stay organized!  I started researching vendors before I was engaged!  As crazy as it sounds (ha ha!), it has been a huge help because I was able to hit the ground running as soon as Paul and I were engaged.  Also, I try to knock out as many tasks as possible and as early as possible. If it can be accomplished today...I do it!

TBC:  What is your favorite TBC feature?

Kelly:  Real Weddings and Shoe Style!!!  I love the Real Weddings for inspiration and Shoe Style because I'm a shoe fiend.

Thanks Kelly for stopping by the cafe today....we can't wait to see you and Paul's wedding day come to fruition....and thanks Eleise for the cute images from Kelly & Paul's engagement session!

Guys if you or someone that you know would like to be featured in our "Real Bride-To-Be" segment...please email me at: janie @ jmflora dot com...I look forward to hearing from you....check back later for a TBC feature "Hot off the Press"!!

Guest Blogger: Kathryn of Snippet & Ink

Hi Guys....tomorrow is my Birthday.....I actually started celebrating yesterday with all of the girlfriends.....and the celebrating continues today...SO....I asked Kathryn of Snippet & Ink to stop by TBC and share a couple of her stunning inspiration boards with you.  Thank you so much Kathryn....your visit is truly a wonderful birthday gift and I am so excited to have you be apart of the celebration!!  Snippet & Ink is one of my favorite sites and I applaud you for all of the gorgeous "eye candy" each day!!

Janie is celebrating her birthday today (Happy Birthday Janie!) and asked me to fill in, and I am thrilled to be guest blogging here at The Bride's Cafe today! Janie and I thought it would be fun if I created two inspiration boards based on her bouquets.

Bouquet #1

 

There is something very classic and formal about this simple white bouquet, so I aimed for that feel in creating this inspiration board. I also pulled the red from the pillow to really complete the look:

Top row: bridesmaids photo by Elizabeth Messina, champagne photo by Marla Aufmuth, red roses photo from Michele M. Waite, estate photo by Fred Egan
Middle row: seating cards photo by Mantas Wright, bouquet by Janie Medley Flora Design, cake photo from Junebug Weddings, invitation by East Six
Bottom row: kissing photo by Jose Villa, white candy buffet from Rebecca Thuss, rose boutonniere from The Knot, ceremony candles via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Here's another inspiration board based on one of Janie's bouquets - how darling is this with the craspedia and monkey tail fern (is that what that's really called or did I make that up?)!

Bouquet #2

I love the colors here, and though craspedia (sometimes called Billy Balls or Billy Buttons) are yellow, they looked almost chartreuse to me. The ferns add another layer of whimsy, and so I tried to include that in the following board:

Top row: bouquet by Janie Medley Flora Design, green candy buffet photo by Meg Smith, bridesmaids photo by Vallentyne Photography, tent from Soiree Charleston
Middle row: outdoor lounge photo by Eleise Theuer, cherry lemonade from Martha Stewart, veil by Leah C, dahlia centerpiece by Ariella Chezar
Bottom row: boutonniere photo by Mi Belle Inc, soda lime plates from Yvonne-Estelle's, apricot cake from Charleston Weddings, calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap

Thank you so much to Janie for inviting me to do some guest blogging at The Bride's Cafe - I'm so flattered to be included among her beautiful posts! If you liked these inspiration boards, you can see more over at my blog, Snippet & Ink!

Susie Coelho's Style Your Dream Wedding

Hi Guys...when I came home from work a couple of weeks ago and found a package waiting for me at my door (don't you love getting packages)....of course I was excited to get inside and open it...Oh My Gosh...inside the box was Susie Coelho's new book...Style Your Dream Wedding....of course I kicked off my shoes...took a seat and begin flipping through the pages...I just kept repeating the phrase..."Oh My Gosh....I LOVE IT....LOVE IT...LOVE IT"!!

The beautiful Susie Coelho....Lifestyle Expert...Best Selling Author and Television Host!

I love the cover shot....taken by the lovely Amy Squires!

Style Your Dream Wedding is the perfect book for any bride who wants to create a stylish and memorable wedding...no matter what the budget.    Susie helps you identify your unique dream wedding style from classic to fanciful, contemporary to countryside, to beach, garden and exotic.    And get this guys....Susie has an exclusive on-line wedding style quiz that will help you find your wedding style...so take a few minutes and head over to her site and find your wedding style!

Style Your Dream Wedding is full of beautiful "eye candy" and loads of inspiration...there is a color palette booklet, a dress silhouette accordion pullout, a CD of wedding music, post cards and more than 600 world-class color photographs taken by some of the best photographers in the business and I am happy to say that several of these oh-so-amazing photographers have been on TBC!  Guys, Style Your Dream Wedding is truly a "must have" to add to your book collection...trust me you will love it!  Oh yeah...I forgot to mention...Susie sent me 2 books...and you know how much I love sharing with the fabulous TBC readers....all you have to do is leave a comment about this post and I will randomly pick a winner to be announced on Wednesday, June 18th.

Thanks Susie....TBC loves Style Your Dream Wedding....we are so glad that you shared it with us today!!!  Have a great weekend everyone!!