Pewter & Orange Wedding Inspiration

Pewter and orange make a great fall combination.  I love how the orange really pops against the sultry pewter.  From bridesmaids dresses to linens and paperwork, luxurious pewter is the perfect combination for bright orange accents.  Some inspiration for your autumn wedding. 

{Top Row: Bridesmaid with Bouquet, Programs, Shoes, Peonies; Second Row: Invitation, Mirrored Table Seating; Third Row: Cake Table, Boutineer}



Dream Big Dreams Baby Shower

I love the muted colors, sky and sunset, of this Dream Big Dreams baby shower.  It gives off a peaceful and dreamy ambiance, full of enchantment.  With hot air balloon accents,  gorgeous draping, suspended lanterns, and thoughtful herbs &  floral centerpieces, their church basement went from drab to fab.  Proving that you can have a beautiful event on a small budget, and in any venue.  Happy Thursday!

{photos via On To Baby}

Simple Vineyard Wedding

I love the simplicity of this Connecticut vineyard wedding.  It feels as though the entire wedding revolved around the lovely couple.  Love the homemade honey jar favors, the adorable telegram invitations, the stunning Jenny Packham gown, and the bridal bouquet all lending to a vintage 1920's feel.

 

{photos via 100 Layer Cake}

25th Silver Birthday Fete

I am a sucker for a fabulous dessert table, and this 25th birthday party has just that.  With a lovely backdrop, gorgeous display of edible treats, monochromatic color scheme, and pretty signage, this dessert table definitely has that wow factor.  Love the use of chevron and polka dots giving this dessert table a modern feel, and the all white desserts adds a touch of elegance, the perfect combination for a 25 year old.

{photos via Pizzazerie}

Guest Post: Party Planning Tips

Hi there rivernorthLovers! I’m Mindy and I blog about photography, party planning, DIY projects and recipes over at a {day} with lil mama stuart. Just like Praveen, I’m a lover of every beautiful little detail that goes into events. Today I’m sharing 10 party planning tips (and details from my daughter's 2nd birthday party) to get your event looking fabulous without breaking the bank or running around like a crazy person.

1. Start early! Give yourself plenty of time to come up with a plan, shop and craft. If you spread your tasks out over a good amount of time, you will be less stressed throughout the process.
2. Find some inspiration that gets you really excited and carry the element(s) throughout the party. If you find something you really love, (an invitation, activity, character, colors, fabric, quote, etc) the ideas will start flowing.

{I liked this design from Social Butterfly Ink and Mia loves her stuffed animals! So that's what we based the invite, cake and party off of.}

3. Paper/printable designs easily tie events together (starting with the invite) because they can be scattered throughout (food, desserts, drinks, giveaways, signs, etc). You could make your own with basic programs like MS Word, MS Powerpoint, Photoshop, etc. Or surf etsy/the web. There’s a TON of printables for free or for purchase (Sprik Space, Chickabug, Hostess with the Mostess, The TomKat Studio, etc)      

{I used the same striped pattern for the juice box covers, soda bottle labels, water bottle labels, food tents, popcorn cones, thank you tags and centerpieces.}

 

4. Visit the venue beforehand. Take measurements of walls, windows, doorways, tables, etc so you can make decorations without guessing dimensions. Ask questions about what restrictions you have when setting up (What can’t you use? Can you hang from the ceiling? What time can you come to set up? What adhesives can you use on the walls? Etc.) 
5. Before going to buy things, shop around your house (and your friends/family!) for plates, vases, trays, glasses, containers, decorations, etc that you can use for the party. Think outside of the box (you can use things for a purpose other than what it's meant for, or something you forgot you had, etc). You'll be surprised at what you come up with!

{I wrapped phone books to add height to my sweets/food table and a bed sheet as a table cloth.}

6. Shop at stores/online weeks before your event and use a coupon! Michael’s, Joann’s and Hobby Lobby all have similar 40% coupons every week (in the paper or on their websites). Don’t forget to hit up Target (especially the dollar bins!), the Dollar Store, Home Goods, Marshalls/TJ Maxx, IKEA, Party City, etc. You might need party supplies online that you can’t get at stores, so account for shipping time. Try Shop Sweet Lulu, Polka-dot Market, Bake It Pretty, Save on Crafts and etsy!  
7. You WILL make multiple trips to stores. You often get the best deals that way.  Always keep your eyes open and don’t overlook the clearance section! You won’t magically find all the right things the first time around. Some of my best party finds are by accident. And you WILL return items that you didn’t end up using – not until AFTER the party though. You might change your mind and use something you thought you wouldn’t.
8.  A week or two before the event, stick to your plan! Don't brainstorm ideas up to the last minute when there is no more time to execute! Stop browsing/shopping and spend more time DOING.
9. Make  detailed checklists of what to-do and what to pack. All shopping, calling vendors, and crafting that needs to be done and what to pack the night before (not the day of!). I’ve had a mom forget a memory card before. Make your lists detailed!
10. Enlist help. If you are limited on time to setup right before the event, accept all the help you can get from friends and family. You can easily direct them on where to place items.

Ok three more quick tips!

1. Showoff your pictures! I’m sure we’re all guilty of having pictures trapped on our computers. Now’s your chance to show them off with all your friends and family together! Mount them on foam core, make a banner, or frame them and place throughout the venue.
2. Bring flat shoes to prep and clean up.
3. Get some rest the night before the party. You don’t want the party to look great but you look like crap!

And there you have it! With these basic tips, I think you can pull off any event full of special details.

Lovely Grey Wedding

Loving all of the romance in this NYC wedding at The Foundry.  Or perhaps it's the color palette that I'm obsessed with, but there are so many lovely details that we adore about this wedding.  The neutral greys, the stunning flower belt on the bridesmaids dresses, the rustic modern elements of the venue, that fabulous backdrop, and of course a very charming couple.  Some modern romance for your Wednesday morning, enjoy!

{photos via Style Me Pretty}

Minneapolis Wedding

I actually found this stunning Minneaplis wedding via a Pinterest pin of their whimsical invite.  Perusing their wedding pictures, it's almost as though I've known the bride and groom forever, and I'm so in love with their style.  The classic color palette of white, grey, with hints of lemon, tie together this elegant and charming wedding.  The bride plans weddings for a bridal magazine, so it's no surprise her wedding day would be full of glamour and personal style.  Love the drama of her dress and that veil, oh my!  And the last picture of the groom, completely adorable!

{photos via Style Me Pretty}