A Vintage Inspired Wedding

Some tips, tricks, and things to think about when planning your big day!

I can't believe it has been four years since my favorite day ever--when I married the handsome man I now get to call my husband. I loved planning every part of my wedding and we handled most of the details ourselves (and by "ourselves" of course I mean with the help of our awesome family and friends!).

On the day of our wedding we opted to take most of our photos earlier in the day. We didn't want people to have to wait for us and we really wanted to savor every moment of the celebration. We still planned for the big moment when Matt would see me in my dress for the first time and had our photographer capture the whole thing. It ended up being a really special time for the two of us to enjoy each other before the wonderful whirlwind started.

Venue:
Since we really enjoy hiking and wanted an elegant picnic vibe, we selected a local Park for both our ceremony and reception. We live in beautiful, rural, upstate NY and had many parks to choose from. Here are a few of the reasons we knew Pratts Falls County Park was the one: the indoor space would comfortably hold our guests and was the perfect canvas for our vintage-chic decorations, there was ample outdoor space with a gorgeous view for our ceremony, and there was a full kitchen on site for our caterer. If you're looking for a unique, affordable venue, check your local parks!

Attire:
In keeping with the overall motif for the day, we chose vintage inspired pieces. A simple lace dress and birdcage veil paired nicely with linen pants, a vest and tie. Remember, you aren't limited to bridal boutiques and tux rentals--the grooms entire outfit was purchased at H&M! 

Food: 
I think the food at a wedding is so important! Even though you probably won't take time to eat much that day, your guests will appreciate good food! One of my favorite parts was our cocktail hour. It was simple, informal, and the perfect opportunity to chat with everyone while sipping drinks on the lawn. 

Neither our venue nor caterer came with waitstaff, but we wanted the evening to have an air of sophistication. To achieve this, we asked acquaintances to help serve appetizers, tend bar, and clear plates etc. It really went a long way in making the evening feel special and we were so grateful for their help!

Dessert:
We had a traditional wedding cake, but we also wanted some personal touches that would make the day feel like us. My favorite dessert is ice cream so we had a soft serve ice cream machine and hand dipped cones. Since Matt loves candy, we used custom printed cloth bags for guests to fill with treats from the candy bar as favors.

Flowers:
I love fresh flowers and had a vision for what I wanted, BUT, flowers are expensive, my friends! I had a local florist make my bouquet, but for the the centerpieces I purchased buckets of flowers wholesale. My aunt used vases I had bought at thrift stores and assembled the table arrangements for us on the morning of the big day.  

Seating Chart:
Everyone dreads this part! I think a well-planned seating chart makes the day better for everyone though. It's no fun to try finding an empty chair in a crowded room, and no matter how much you want them to--even without assigned seats--people won't really mingle, they will just stake a claim and stay there. I can't make that part much more fun, you just have to buckle down and get it done. I can share a fun idea to display your seat assignments though! 

I took vintage windows and arranged childhood pictures of us behind the glass. Then I used miniature clothespins to secure the seat assignments to twine wrapped around the windows. It was fun for friends and family to see the pictures while they found their seat. 

Table Settings:
I knew we wanted "real" dishes but didn't want the standard white rentals. So, Matt and I spent many Saturdays sorting through stacks of vintage plates at thrift stores until we had enough dinner and dessert plates to use! We also collected vintage teacups to serve coffee in. The stemware and white linen tablecloths were rented from a local company, but we discovered it was actually less expensive to purchase the silverware and cloth napkins so we went that route. This also allowed us to pre-wrap the silverware in our napkins so they were ready to the day of.  

At the end of the evening we had a sparkler send-off. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day! I definitely recommend ordering "wedding" sparklers online--they are longer than typical sparklers and this ensures everyone's sparkler stays sparkly long enough for you to enjoy the moment and get some good pictures!

Speaking of pictures--all of these awesome photos were done by our amazing photographer, Jen Vrooman of Vrooman Photography. 

Color Crush: Yellow

Hi, friends! With summer here in full swing, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite uses of the color yellow. It is such a warm, cheery color and it reminds me of sunshine, lemonade, and days at the beach. Yellow can be a tricky color to work with, but these folks nailed it! 

*If you like these pictures as much as I do and want to pin them to pinterest, please be awesome and click on the pictures then pin from the original sources. Thanks!

2. In this monochromatic kitchen, yellow chair cushions really pop! I especially like how the color adds visual weight to the ghost chairs.

1. The saturation and vibrance of this door are to DIE for. And I adore the use of hot pink as the complimentary color here. Go bold or go home!

4. This wallpaper is everything that wallpaper should be. It manages to pull off playful and fun while remaining sophisticated and elegant. 

3. I am in love with the idea of modern yellow on a vintage fireplace--what a statement! The yellow echoed in the floral rug brings unity and cohesion to the adjoining room.

6. Hairpin legs painted yellow are the perfect amount of color on this hall table and draw out the yellow in the painting above.

5. Here is another example of yellow chairs--in addition to looking divinely comfortable, they pair beautifully with the warm wood tones.

Create Spaces That Encourage What You Love!

Interior design isn't always about big projects or total overhauls--sometimes it means creating small spaces within your home that encourage you to do what you love!

I love reading; there is nothing quite like curling up with a good book and a fresh cup of coffee. Here are a few important things that I think really help make the experience top notch! 

First, the perfect chair! These vintage beauties are just the right size and they are ridiculously comfortable! I think a throw pillow and cozy blanket really round out the comfy factor. In the summer, I enjoy that I can have the windows open behind me--nothing like some natural light and fresh air. Finally, a small side table is the perfect place to set your book and favorite sipping beverage. Now, all that's left is to carve out some time to settle in and get lost in your favorite book!

Here's a quick look at my recent reading list!

1. Empty Mansions -- While mindlessly perusing Amazon kindle books one evening, looking for something to read, I stumbled across this book. The synopsis captured my attention and I immediately downloaded it into my kindle library. It is a fascinating history of one family's wealth, power, and scandal. It was not quite as mysterious as I was hoping for, but still interesting nonetheless. 

2. Black Water Rising -- I picked this up after hearing an interview with the author, Attica Locke, on NPR. I was impressed by the history of the small Texas town that inspired pieces of this book. The actual story did not disappoint. It reads a little slow--surprisingly this did not detract, but actually added to the drama and tone. I cannot wait to read the sequel, Pleasantville! 

3. Blink -- After seeing a movie at the mall with my husband, we passed through the food court and I saw what appeared to be a Redbox, but for BOOKS! I was ridiculously excited to find that it was indeed a vending box/mini library where all I had to do was scan my library card and voila! I could borrow a book right there. This book is an interesting look at how both our subconscious and conscious work to take in and make decisions about the world around us, when we should trust instinct, and what warrants a second pass. 

4. Valley Of The Dolls -- This was a bookclub pick and I am on the fence about it. It was an entertaining read but I felt like the characters fell a little flat. Not bad for a summer afternoon at the beach, but not my all-time favorite.

5. Scary Close -- A long-distance friend suggested we both read this and then chat about our thoughts and impressions. She loved it but I was not convinced. As we talked about the reasons for our opinions, I realized we were coming at the book from totally different places. This is a book about self-discovery and authenticity--where my friend applauded the author's bravery, I was skeptical. I think I may need to re-read this with a bit more grace and little less cynicism.

6. Do Over -- Full confession: I started listening to this as an audio book and have not finished yet. The first few chapters were great but I think I need to pick up a physical copy so I can digest it a little more slowly. 

That's it for my reading lately... How about you? I'd love to hear about your recent reads! Comment below and tell me what have you loved and why you would recommend it! I'd also be excited to know how you intentionally create spaces in your home to do what you love!

Happy 4th of July!

A patriotic patio that you can enjoy all summer long!

Independence day is right around the corner and I wanted to share some great pieces for your 4th of July party that can easily be enjoyed for the rest of the summer too.

I've also included a few yummy recipes to get your party started! 

Happy 4th of July and thank you to the men and women who protect our freedom!

Patio Pieces: 

Sneak Peek: Eclectic Farmhouse Kitchen Design Board

A recent client was all about the DIY so I was excited to put together a kitchen design that really showcased her (and her hubby's!) renovation skills. These DIY projects feature tutorials from some other awesome bloggers and the links can be found below. 

DIY Sources:

Drop Cloth Curtains -- These curtains amazing! They don't require any sewing and they are a huge bargain as they are made with inexpensive drop cloths. If you are aiming for a less-rustic look, you could quickly hem the edges!

Subway Tile Backsplash -- The images in this tutorial are stunning and I love how the dark grout contrasts so beautifully with the white tile. 

Butcher Block Counters -- Learn how to make and maintain these gorgeous counters! The warm wood against the white cupboards is the perfect balance of crisp and cozy.

Coffee Cup Holder -- Keep your mugs within easy reach with this pallet inspired piece. 

Jute Placemats -- The only items you will need to make these Pottery Barn inspired jute placemats are 3/8" jute and a hot glue gun. This is the perfect project to complete in an afternoon and then use for a dinner party!

Dresser turned Kitchen Island -- What a genius idea this island is! Just hit up your local thrift store or check craigslist and then turn a forlorn dresser into a beauty like this one!
Here is another great example of this idea.
*Note: I changed the color of the piece shown on the board using photoshop in order to match the client's design and color scheme. 

Husky Farmhouse Table -- Here is a great tutorial for a table nearly identical to the one pictured. 

 

Additional Sources: 

Shiplap Ceiling
Floating Shelves
Enamel Sink