Tuesdays are for Mood Boards.....Lace and Zinnias

Images by Chocolate Creative Design

Over the years I have been strategically trying to plant the perfect cutting garden. Trust me when I say I have tried everything. The winner in this love/hate relationship seems to come out to the Zinnia. They can take quite a beating, magically produce more flowers when you cut them and last from early summer throughout the fall.

I am convinced that if the world came to an end in Stonington, CT that 4 things would survive...

Mice, Japanese Beetles, Chipmunks and Zinnias.

Now that we are nearing the end of summer, I see a garden filled with Zinnias and fields draped with Queen Anne's Lace. They seem to have been forgotten in the world of weddings but I was so happy to see them back in The Grace Ormonde Shoot that we did last week!

I also have had lace and gardens on the brain since I have 2 clients (a wedding invitation suite and a logo) that I have incorporated both of these elements..

I guess you will all just have to wait and see...Soon I promise!!

Vintage Lace Dress: Cornhl, Zinnia image: Gardening Gone Wild, Lace gloves image: Going to the Chapel, Vintage Lace Jacket: Timeless Vixen Vintage, Cake: Going to the Chapel

Fruit Ice Cream: Mary Ruffle, Lace Skirt: Anthropologie, Plum Popsicles: Country Living, Candlestick, Anthropologie, Pillow: Anthropologie

Platter: Anthropologie, Hat: Anthropologie, Earrings: Anthropologie,Dress: Anthropologie, Rug: Anthropologie

Earrings, Anthropologie, Lace Votive: Sunday Suppers, Lace Dress Image: Going to the Chapel, Zinnia Plate: Zinnia Design tc, Zinnia Invitation: Up Up

Plates, Flowers, Lace Bowl: Isabelle Abramson, Zinnias: Mahanandi

Board created and designed by Chocolate Creative Design

LSW

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards... New England Island Wedding

This board was designed especially for Ilana and Lee a couple that I met over a year ago while doing a wedding on Island Farm "Elihu" island. They immediately fell in love with the island and I knew that when we started working together to design their wedding we would have a lot of fun redefining the preppy nautical wedding. I am always excited to find new ways to design the classic New England beach wedding. Together with Ilana and Lee we have identified a style that is preppy and traditional but fun, and whimsical with coastal flair. Playing off the colors of the beach for the cocktail hour down by the water we are using a color palette of sand, navy and turquoise. As guests transition into the main tent we are using bold pops of color to create an energy around the dance floor with pinks and greens. We are also bringing in different textures/patterns with shells, nautical rope and a chevron print in accents of paper and pillows. So excited to see this board come to life and for a truly special couple!

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards... Romantic Garden Wedding with Vintage Lace

This board was created for one of my September couples, getting married at the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club in Branford, CT. A gorgeous venue on the CT shoreline with spectacular water views. Kate described her vision for the wedding as garden romantic, elegant, vintage with layers of texture and lace, and unique to the two of them. Working with Miss Wesson (Chocolate Creative Design) to tie together the elements of the design and personalization of the details through the paper this is truly going to be a special event!

A Romantic Vineyard Wedding... Congratulations Karyn and Paul

Mood/Inspiration Board: Romantic, casual elegance, vintage, whimsical, and fun.

This past weekend launched wedding season for us with Karyn and Paul's wedding at Saltwater Farm Vineyard. And while the weather didn't completely cooperate it really was the perfect day. Karyn and I had so much fun in designing her wedding and weaving all of the details into the design, which really set the tone for the event as guests walked into the reception.


Collaboration:
Event Coordination: True Event
Floral Design: Hana Floral Design
Hair/Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering
Photography: Joshua Behan
Videography: Buzz Media Company
Music: Brick Park Entertainment
Lighting: Power Posse Productions
Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard
Transportation: MDT Transportation and Joshua's Limousine
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited


I have heard so many fabulous things about Joshua Behan and finally had the opportunity to work with him this past weekend. He did such an amazing job capturing all of the details, and emotion throughout the day. For more images from Karyn and Paul's wedding check out his blog.





Miss Wesson (Chocolate Creative Design) also came to shoot some of the details for the blog pre-wedding.

Photos by Chocolate Creative Design

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards... Pretty in Pink, Modern City Chic Wedding

This board was designed for an extra special couple, Libby and Patrick, for a spring wedding that I am collaborating on with the fabulous Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty, and a team of incredibly talented vendors in Nashville, TN. It is to take place on the rooftop, of a brand new building overlooking the city. The views are incredible from up there and the details sure are going to be fabulous. Stay tuned for much more to come on this collaboration as we take you behind the scenes, from inspiration to reality.

Mood: Sophisticated, Romantic, Modern, City Chic.

Row 1: Dessert Table, image via Ruffled Blog, Pink Dresses, image via 100 Layer Cake, Bride and Groom, image via 100 Layer Cake.
Row 2: Bridesmaid dress, Priscilla of Boston, String Lighting, image via A Cup of Joe, Paper poms, Etsy, Centerpiece, image via Style Me Pretty, Bride, image via Style Me Pretty.
Row 3: Image via Style me Pretty, Dahlia image via, Style Me Pretty, ruffle pillow, Pier One Imports, Bridesmaid Dress, Priscilla of Boston.
Row 4: CB2 Glass Candles, Image via 100 Layer Cake, Centerpiece image via, Style Me Pretty, Ruffle Cake, image via 100 Layer Cake, Pillar Candles, image via Style Me Pretty.

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards... Rustic Chic Winery Wedding

Flora Bond Necklace Etsy (inspiration)

Today's Mood Board is for Erin (who is also a member of Team True Event) and Dan. They are getting married at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, in October. I am having so much fun redesigning the space with each of my clients celebrating their wedding at the winery. It is such an unbelievably unique space near the water in Stonington. An old airport hanger, turned into a winery, it is the perfect blend of vintage and modern. Erin described her vision as Simple Elegance, Romantic, Rustic, Vintage, and Whimsical.

*Erin has also started her own wedding blog with daily inspiration for a rustic chic wedding, it is absolutely fabulous!*

Taken from one of her posts: The Inspiration...why Rustic Chic

It started with the setting. After a fairly short search (my list of criteria combined with our guest list did not provide for a long list of reception site options in Connecticut) Dan and I chose Saltwater Farm Vineyard as our reception site. The moment we turned down the slightly hidden long dirt drive I knew this was going to be the place.

Pulling up it is as though you are transported to another place, and inside the meticulously revitalized space (I don't dare say renovated as so much of the building's authenticity has been preserved) has such fantastic raw energy. The space was originally a WWII aircraft hangar, which means towering high ceilings with gorgeous exposed wooden beams and ceilings. The space comes as-is... and lends itself perfectly to personalization through colors, textures, linens, flowers, lighting, and all sorts of fabulous details.

While exhilerated by this I was also (ever so slightly) overwhelmed... until I met Sarah True. Sarah is the creative event mastermind who after listening to my chaotic inspiration list (French Provincial meets Paris Chic, vineyard but not too wine focused, fall but not overkill of oranges and yellow, soft & warm lighting, browns, dark blues, dark purples, flowers but not too flowery, candles, lanterns, and the list goes on...) somehow decifered it all into a Rustic Chic inspiration - and it just fit! I am so excited (and lucky) to have Sarah working on our wedding; I cannot image attempting it without her.

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards...Pinks, Champagne and Chocolate

Mood Board Inspiration from Martha Stewart

Today's board is for a special couple, Karyn and Paul, my first official wedding of 2010. Their wedding going to be held this spring at Saltwater Farm Vineyard. Karyn described the mood as romantic, casual elegance, vintage, whimsical, and fun. All of these words create an overall feeling that we want guests to have as they enter through the doors to the winery in April. We started out with tones of purples, navy and silver and have evolved into soft pinks, champagne, and gold tones. I just LOVE this combination of colors, so excited for the direction we are going with the design.


Row 1: Lace Doily Luminaries, via Martha Stewart, Peony Bouquet, image via Wiley Valentine, Gold Leaf Plate, image via Style Me Pretty, Ruffle Cake, image via Wiley Valentine.

Row 2: Gold Skirt, J.Crew, image via Snippet and Ink, Table with Stars, via Slightly Obsessive Bride, Centerpiece, via Martha Stewart, Desert Table, via Martha Stewart
Row 3:Room, via Wiley Valentine, Ruffly Shoes, via Wedding Wire, Table, Butterfly Escort Cards, via Martha Stewart
Row 4: Pink and Gold Uplighting, via Ariel Yve Design, Lampshade centerpiece, via the Knot
Row 5: Pink Peonies, image via Brooklyn Bride, Butterfly Paper Lanterns, via Snippet and Ink, Table, via Sweet Pea Events, Bouquet with Butterfly, image via Style Me Pretty

Valentines Day Dresses....

I love getting dressed up for New Years Eve and Valentines Day, it doesn't matter what my plans are, you can be sure I will be decked out. I always search high and low for the perfect dress, and as I was searching I came across these dresses that I just had to share.

Whether you are married, single, engaged, or dating, Valentines Day is for everyone. It is an excuse to celebrate love, friendship, chocolate, candy, flowers, and everything red and pink!

1.Silk dupioni Gwendolyn dress, $195, J.Crew
2. Ports 1961, Totem Tuck Sheath Dress, $475, Shopbop
3. Nicole Miller, Strapless Chiffon Cocktail Dress, $420, Nordstrom
4. Shani Collections, Ruffle-Neck Silk Dress, $295, Neiman Marcus
5. David Meister, One Shoulder Sheath Dress, $306, Nordstrom
6. Moschino Cheap and Chic, Strapless Dress with Bow Detail, $755, Shopbop
7. Diane Von Furstenberg, Poplin Wrap Dress, $365, Neiman Marcus