inspiration – rectangular tables

I don’t know why, but I find long tables so much more attractive than rounds. I suppose rounds are nicer because everyone has more people to talk to and look at, but I just really love the look of tablecloths draped over long, rectangular tables.

This image is from a recent wedding on SMP, almost a little TOO simple for my taste.

THIS, on the other hand, is more the feel I love. I have a strange obsession with barns, but am forcing myself to acknowledge that there are no *real* barns in the area of Southern California I’m looking at. This was from a wedding posted on Green Wedding Shoes a while back, but it’s a good compromise of round/rectangular. The second image is from the actual photographer’s blog post… as I went hunting for more pictures.

Green Wedding Shoes just posted another wedding… and well, whaddayaknow… rectangular tables. Maybe what I love about rectangular tables is being to look down them and see the entire layout.

There have been tons of pretty, pretty rectangular table layouts that I’ve loved and I’ll try to find more so I can post them here. Getting to use long tables at my reception is going to totally depend on the venue, but at this point, can it hurt to dream?

And on a random side-note… if I’m gonna end up with round tables, I’d LOVE for them to turn out like this:

Seriously. This is a reception shot from a wedding that the [b]ecker shot at last year. To be completely honest, this is my dream venue- the Santa Lucia Preserve. Unfortunately, it’s located more in Northern or Central California than Southern, and I don’t think you can even dream of getting married there unless you own a part of the Preserve… or something like that. I’d graciously and gladly accept correction if anyone else says otherwise!

inspiration – programs

While the Berkeley part of me is all in favor of saving the trees and not wasting paper, the wedding-lover in me simply ADORES paper. Programs, invitations, save-the-dates, place cards, escort cards, labels, coat check tags, thank you cards, signs, EVERYTHING!!!

I’m unfortunately not a graphic designer, but I have a lot of ideas for what my paper products might look like. Just like my dilemma with flowers, I have no idea what colors or sizes I would want to ultimately use, but I know that I want to go the way of personalized, custom designs that really only fit ME.

I really liked this program posted earlier on Style Me Pretty! What a cute, clever way of doing something a little different but yet, traditional. I think I’d want something with a little more color, but in terms of layout, bravo!

inspiration- floral centerpieces

Unlike many planners and brides, I don’t really “get” flowers. Yes, they’re seriously beautiful. Yes, they’re colorful. But… I just don’t know very much about flowers and I don’t have very many preferences about what kind or variety of flower is used as long as the end product is pretty. I contradict myself a lot too… sometimes I love the simple understated look and other times, the WOW-those-flowers-are-bright bouquets and arrangements. Go figure.

Anyway, since I’m trying to use this blog more frequently and effectively, I’ll try to start saving images that I do like so that my future florist has something to work with. Right now, all she’s gonna get is, “I don’t care as long as it looks nice.”

This pretty arrangement was part of a wedding featured on Junebug Weddings last week. I’m not sure if I thought it was stunning because of the lighting or because of the flowers, but they just look so pure and pretty, especially with the clean lines that the stems create. Since we don’t have a venue set, I haven’t been able to choose colors… and because I really love ALL colors (not even joking) I sometimes contemplate going with black and white just to avoid having to make a decision.

This arrangement I also loved, but for obviously different reasons. It was part of a wedding post over at 100 Layer Cake and the contrasting color combo of lavender and orange caught my attention. Pretty!

not at my wedding

Maybe this will be first in a series of posts on things I definitely, definitely don’t want at my wedding.

Tell me what’s wrong with this picture:

There’s nothing at all wrong with the beautiful bride and her groom, the bridesmaids or the groomsmen… and even the church (despite the blah carpet and wood paneling).

But… DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Yep, that’s what I thought.

I’m totally serious when I say that the first thing I noticed in this picture were the OUTLETS. the OUTLETS! Who in the world would want to show off her wedding pictures and have everyone notice the stinkin’ OUTLETS?!

My friend was one of the bridesmaids in this wedding and she posted pictures on her Facebook earlier this week. I looked through them as I would any other wedding album, until I got to the aforementioned picture. I just couldn’t get over the outlets. The rest of the wedding was beautiful and the photographer (who will remain unnamed, because I’m not that cruel) took a lot of pretty shots of the couple, but seriously- the outlets.

From a more business-y perspective… I skimmed through the photographer’s blog and they’re definitely not bad. However, I did notice that they excluded this group picture from the blog post, and unfortunately, even though their blog readers will be spared from seeing the outlet-picture, many, many other people will. Especially in the age of social media where you can share hundreds of pictures with the click of a button, you can’t afford mistakes. (I mean, I don’t know the bride or groom but hello, Facebook!) The bride and groom, their bridal party, and their family members are all scrutinzing these pictures and sharing them with their friends, who very well may be potential clients. Unfortunate.

Anyway, I’d terribly disappointed if my future wedding photographer made the same mistake and as long as I have anything to do with it, outlet-pictures will NOT be at my wedding.

diy – calligraphy

To be completely honest, I have no idea where to start this blog. I have TONS of ideas from poring over blogs, helping friends plan their weddings, and dreaming up my own. It’s overwhelming to imagine putting everything to paper… so I won’t. I’m sure it’ll all come out eventually, but for now, I’m just going to post whatever I feel like.

The other day, there was a post on Oh Happy Day! about calligraphy and it caught my attention. I have no idea what my wedding budget will look like, but with the future-fiancee on track for dental school, it’s very likely that we’ll want to minimize wedding expenses. Again, I don’t know what this will look like, but I’m pretty sure there isn’t going to be budget allocated to calligraphy (or letterpress, but that’s another sob story).

Laura Hooper has pretty much exploded all over the blog world over the past few months, and with good reason. Her work is gorgeous! I love fonts, but calligraphy… there’s just something so much more enticing about handmade.

Look! Aren’t these beeeeeeautiful?

Anyway, the post referenced a tutorial over at Project Wedding that basically suggests getting calligraphy tools and practicing it on your own. I’m a little intimidated by the ink and the pens but really, really love the look of personalized paper goods. A quick Google search (look for another post about how much I love Google) took me to this page that looks helpful too… I’ll post any results, if I convince myself to do it!