Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

{Fab*Bride} A Bridal Spotlight on Leda!

We're back with our third edition of Fab*Bride! This week's choice comes from a nomination by Sarah Rhoads Photographers, a husband and wife team based in Seattle, Washington. I adore each and every one of the photos I've seen them produce. They have such a freshness to them - truly unique! When they nominated Leda, I could not believe my eyes! The wedding is so artistic and stunning, and the bride is truly beautiful. I asked Sarah a few questions about Leda. She responded with willingness to chat about our lovely Fab*Bride!

What makes Leda fabulous?  What makes Leda fabulous is her heart for others. She is one of the most selfless and kindhearted brides I have had. She knows how to put her friends and family before herself and I really admire that in her. On another note she is extremely stylish and beats to the tune of her own drum!

What is it about her that makes her interesting?  Well Leda is naturally breathtaking. She has a very unique look to her that instantly draws you in. Beyond that, she has an extremely dynamic personality and charismatic style.

What was your favorite part about photographing her? What makes her stand out from other brides?  My favorite part about shooting her was she was completely natural in front of the camera. She let her guard down with me and we got fantastic photos because of that. What makes Leda stand out is her heart for others and her flawless sense of style ;)

Without further ado, let us introduce Leda!

Your wedding is stunningly modern. What is it about this aesthetic that you love so much? What advice do you have for other brides out there who want something clean, yet totally chic?  Like many brides, the style of our wedding evolved over the course of planning it.  I always wanted an outdoor wedding and 'tent' reception, but the logistics became difficult taking into account our budget and geography (Seattle...rain!).  We ended up choosing a hotel near the Museum of Glass and were really inspired by the beautiful glass art throughout the hotel.  The black-on-black look seen in our wedding just seemed really classic and modern.  I really liked the idea of using a lot of black but in different textures.  Usually the more simple and clean, the more impact.  We had black chairs, table cloths, runners, tall black vases and bright flowers really popped against all the black. 

How did you know that Jonathan was ‘the one?’ He was the one who could always make me laugh.  I think that's the key to a happy marriage.  Find the one that makes you laugh and you're set for life.

Your photographer told us that you are super stylish! When we saw these photographs, we could not agree more! Who is your fashion icon + why? Oh do I have to choose just one?  I'd have to say Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Blake Lively and Diane Von Furstenberg not only because I love their style, but they're not afraid to be themselves.  I admire people who aren't afraid to step out of their comfort zone. 

If you could label one song as the theme to your wedding, what would it be? Definitely "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes.  We had it as the background to the slide show we played at our reception and it was one of my favorite moments of our wedding.

A Vibrant Dia de los Muertos Wedding

Have you ever heard of a Day of the Dead wedding? The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans throughout the US and Canada on November 1st and 2nd which is also All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day. The celebrations are festive, full of color, and often involving sweets like sugar skulls and delicious foods. You can read more about Dia de los Muertos here on Wikipedia, including information about the rich culture of celebrating those who have passed on. Wiki says that the celebrations are often comical, and that to me explains the use of vibrant skull motifs and figurines.

I stumbled across the adorable and lively Dia de los Muertos wedding above on Offbeat Bride, and the bride Julie was sweet enough to share her photos with me. I love all of the details- from the bright blue, fuchsia, lime, and orange decor to the spread of sweets at the candy buffet. I think the cake may just be the best part. Julie and her husband were married in Las Vegas, so their cake topper featured a bride, groom, and Elvis skeleton. How kitschy cute?! The festive colors didn't just lend itself to the cake and candy, but also to her retro floral printed dress, colorful paper poms, and her candle lit centerpieces. 

A Dia de los Muertos wedding is brave & unique and oh-so-fun! The idea can easily lend itself to an everyday celebration or birthday as well. Consider these adorable sugar skulls from Dean & Deluca, a skull cake design one of our consultants saw at a friend's recent 40th birthday party, and Mexican party invitation Fiesta Grande.

Have you ever been to a Day of the Dead wedding or party? If so, let me know in a comment below. I would love to hear about it!

Proposing to Your Girlfriend Recessionmista Style

I loved the movie The Proposal and not just because I am a super big Ryan Reynolds fan, but because it was a solid movie. It may have not been the most common way to become engaged, but I do think that not every engagement involves a fancy restaurant with a dozen roses. Some engagements are more practical, while others are more whimsy and some are just plain sweet.

Here are a few ideas for a simple, and recession proof proposal. Some are fictional and ideas to share and others are tried and true:

Propose at a drive-in movie during a chic flick.

Propose on the steps of your high school (if you were high school sweethearts).

Bring a boom box and dress like John Cusack in Say Anything and stand outside her window. Play your "couple" song on the boom box and have her come out and propose.

Put "Will you marry me?" in a fortune cookie. 

Make her dinner and prepare soup, place alphabet pasta in the bowl and spell out, "Marry me."

Put the proposal in baked goods. Inspired by Bakerella.

My fave: sweet and never fails: Propose at a picnic on the beach at sunset.

These are cheap proposal ideas, the ring is another story!

Simply Save the Date, Letter Burst, The Proposal movie stars, Picnic stuff, Say Anything

Preston Bailey Wedding Invitations | Let Color Inspire Your Wedding Story

We are on cloud nine at Invitation Consultants and it's all due to the fabulous new wedding invitations created and inspired by Preston Bailey!

An internationally renown event designer who has crafted beautiful events for so many A-list clients, Preston takes ordinary to extraordinary with his sumptuous and theatrical "art installations."

The purpose of these invitations is to allow the flowers to inspire your wedding and let the colors and bountiful centerpieces act as the basis for your wedding story. For those who dream in color (as I have always done), let these exquisite designs expand your imagination and help guide you through choosing the details of your wedding. We've taken four invitations and built a colorful wedding story around them. Let's take a peek!

The elegant 'Held Dearly' wedding invitation features a green floral background with multiple shades of sages and pops of periwinkle. Green can be translated so many ways from energetic and crisp, to soothing and natural. It is a symbol for growth and renewal, the perfect inspiration as you begin your new life together. Colorful candies, beautiful jewels, and a tropically modern cake are all ideas that we pulled from this wedding invitation.

The whimsical nature of Preston's 'Signature Sweetness' invitation shimmers and blossoms as every bride should do on her special day. She must feel royally special. Purple can be soft and feminine, or bold and noble. It is a color for all seasons - use lavenders for Spring and Summer and deep eggplants and fuchsias for Fall and Winter. We've paired this lovely invite with an extravagant tablescape and chic purple heels.

The sunny 'Sunflower Fantasy' invitation is vibrant and optimistic. You feel instant happiness from these sunflowers and you can't help but fall in love with the modern design. It's clean and refreshing, warm and pure. Parasols, coordinated tie+bout, and zingy lemon-tinis exude cheerfulness on your wedding day.

'Rose Bloom' is a romantic choice of invitation for the elegant bride and groom. It's sheer and simple aesthetic allows the over-sized flower to truly tell a love story. Creamy corals, espressos, pinks, and creams are all seamlessly represented in this unique design. Neapolitan ice cream and a stylishly-sweet creamy gown with coordinating brown sash make your heart skip a beat.

It is easy to see how the lavish and sophisticated designs of Preston Bailey inspired fabulous invitations. Planning a wedding is simple if you have a core idea. Choose your invitations first and let them create a statement for your wedding. It's the first glimpse your guests have at the style of your wedding. With these invitations, the first page of your wedding story will take you all the way to happily ever after. The End.

All wedding invitations are courtesy of Preston Bailey for Invitation Consultants. Inspiration imagery are courtesy of real weddings from Project Wedding and The Knot. 

{Fab*Bride} A Bridal Spotlight on Jennie!

Hi to all! I'm so thrilled to be bringing you the first of many Fab*Brides! I absolutely love pop culture, style, and current events, but I've been wanting to bring something a little more personal to the blog-o-sphere. At Fab*Blog, we're here to inspire brides, planners, designers, and photographers to be absolutely fab*ulous, and what a better way to do that than to feature real brides strutting their stuff on their big day? I could write for days on what I define a Fab*Bride to be, but quite honestly it's impossible to narrow it down to a few short sentences - it encompasses so many wonderful attributes. So let's dive right in! Meet Jennie, our first Fab*Bride!

 
When I started this process, I e-mailed lots of friends and photographers for nominations on perfect Fab*Bride candidates. Our e-friends, Jesse and Whit over at Our Labor of Love (OLOL) were the first to jump in on the fun! We're so glad they did. Meet their nominee: Jennie. She's a graphic designer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her personal style is written all over this wedding, and even though I don't know Jennie personally, I really connected with these photos. When I asked OLOL how it was to photograph Jennie and her now-hubby they said,

"Jennie was such a fabulous bride to work for especially as the photographer. She had thought through many moments prior to the wedding day and made sure they were 'photo proof,' so needless to say we had so much fun running around Milwaukee with these two."

I think that this is essential to preparing to be photographed for your big day. Know what you want and think through how to ask for it. Work with the photographers and get the look that you want to achieve. It's your big day and you deserve it. And now...drum roll please...let's ask the Fab*Bride herself some really grueling (aka fun) questions:

Style Inspiration | Boho*Chic

This morning felt different than most that I've woken up to lately. This is mostly due to the fact that usually when I walk outside to my car, I am pelted with a blanket of humidity and my hair instantly starts to frizz; However, today the temperature was about seventy-four degrees and there was not an ounce of humidity in the air. I went back inside to grab a scarf {don't you just love scarf season?} because I had the tingly feeling of Fall -- instant happiness.

As I drove to work with my sunroof down, I had this overwhelming sense of relaxation and excitement at the same time. I felt easy-breezy as my mind started to wander through one of my favorite topics: style.

I started to think about all the items of clothing that have been stale in my closet, waiting patiently to be worn when there is actually a reason to wear it. I thought about all of the weddings that I will be attending {and participating in} in the coming months and the fact that I will be dying my hair a color a more autumnal hue this Friday. I had an instant urge to display patterned throw pillows and blankets and sip a cup of tea. I felt rejuvenated.

So today's inspiration is all about the influence of bohemian chic style. It can be free-spirited and casual, or luxe and elegant. To me, it's a style that can be worn year-round, and for Fall you can make it all about leggings, patterns, hobo bags, and tunics. Beading, embroidery, cropped jackets, and flowy tops & skirts are also signature staples.

To throw a boho-chic party, it's all about gorgeous colors. Mix muted and soft pieces with bold colors and patterns. It's about being eclectic, so if something does match perfectly, don't worry -- it still goes. Do-it-yourself projects and homespun details are easy ways to personalize your party and make a folksy statement. If you're throwing a more luxurious soiree, incorporate posh fabrics and bling. Chandeliers, candles, and an abundance of flowers are all first-class details that can add instant elegance. Don't forget to send a festive invitation.

Image credits: Luxe Bohemian Bedroom via The Love List, Milly Spring 2010 dress, Moroccan Holiday by Invitation Consultants, Boho Bride, Wedding Signage via Max Wanger {Mindy + Nils}, Poms, programs, patterns, and wedding details via The Nichols Blog {quite possible the most adorable wedding ever}

We Heart Our Labor Day Sale

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! This marks the end of summer and reminds me of the movie Dirty Dancing. Come Tuesday, we can have scarves and jewel colored tones on the brain, but for right now, it's going to be a great shopping weekend! 

5% off Everything use code: 5PERCENT  exp: 9/7 at InvitationConsultants.com

{Chill out} with a Yoga Party

 

Yoga parties have been gaining popularity for quite some time now. Celebs such as Madonna, Oprah, and Sting have publicly announced their devotion to the ancient system and it has stirred up a trend that has become a norm, yet still fresh. Yoga is offered at practically every gym and is flourishing throughout the country because of the positive effects that it has on one's mind, body, and spirit. An idea that hits closer to your home are yoga parties. Practically any type can be transformed into a relaxing soiree with a zen state of mind. There are yoga cocktail parties, yoga bridal showers, yoga birthday parties, and yoga corporate events. Some choose to incorporate yoga into their weekly book club meetings or as a meeting place for professionals to get away from the office. People are searching for stress reduction and what a better way to do it than to have fun with a relaxed group of people.

Tips to a successful yoga party:

Trend Alert | Flower Girl Fashion

Thank heaven for little {flower} girls! They are oh-so-adorable and definitely showstoppers (not to overshadow the bride, of course). Here are a few trends to help your little lady make a fashionable debut down the aisle:

• Sparkle! We all know that it's the bride's day, but there is no reason that other members of your bridal party should not feel gorgeous too...after all, they are participating in the most important day of your life and you want them to look chic! To help your flower girls look sassy, find a bedazzled dress with rhinestones, beads, or sequins. These are ideal for modern brides utilizing a soft and elegant color palette, having an evening affair, or theming their big day towards old Hollywood glamour. The bolero and modern dresses seen above are from London-based Monsoon.
• Accessorize! To start with, the ballerina-look is so soft and cute. Tutu skirts and ballet flats are practically everywhere and make such a precious statement. Additionally, accent your little girl's beauty with a floral headpiece or pin. Who says she only has to throw petals? She can wear them too!
• Think outside the bud! Flower girls don't always shower the aisle with blossoms. Sometimes they carry other items, such as colorful parasols, watering cans holding a single stem, or a purse. Doing something a little different is one more way to personalize your wedding.

Image credits: Monsoon fashions via The Bridal Wishlist, watering can & parasol imagery via Masterpiece Weddings, Flower girl in tutu via GreenWeddingShoes, Baby Bloom Crochet hats via Pink Bowtique, adorable flower girl photo via Project Wedding. 

Halloweddings: A Wedding on Halloween

Saturday October 31st is a big night this year, not only because it is Halloween, but because it is a huge day and night for weddings. Halloween weddings are on the rise and here's why you should consider it too!

1. Not many couples wanted to get married on Halloween before so this night was always considered more economical for a wedding.

2. It's fun and anything you can do in this economy to break out of the everyday norm and escape from reality is a plus. So dressing in costume to a friend's nuptials seems like a great idea!

3. The bride and groom can be creative and not have to wear traditional wedding wear, thus being unique.

4. Celebrity vampires are getting married, maybe not on Halloween, but they are vampires and vampires makes us think of Halloween. True Blood + New Moon hype makes us crazy about Halloween and its mystery.

Cool stuff: The perfect Halloween couple - Frankenstein and his bride inspired these Halloween wedding invitations.  Check out: 5 Haunted wedding sites, more scary stuff, and True Blood. Plan all aspects of your wedding around Halloween, even the cake. And remember to serve candy corn!