Inspiring Ideas - Adore with Delight

I'm so excited to share a recent discovery that I believe will help inspire a lot of you brides-to-be out there! It's a website called, Adore with Delight and I must admit it is an adorable idea. They take the most gorgeous wedding photographs and create custom color palettes based on the colors featured in the images. I know that may brides will find this site helpful since choosing colors is a vital part of wedding planning. It can be overwhelming at times trying to pick the best color scheme, especially with so many beautiful images available everywhere. Adore with Delight handpicks some of the most beautiful images from some of the most talented photographers around. Plus their color swatches are available for download which is so helpful for brides who want to use the exact hues for their big day - told you they were clever! Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think about this brilliant idea!

Style Social - A Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger Series [Part 4]

Whelp, that’s it my Thursday evenings just went from fun and exciting to boring and routine. Why the sudden shift? Because as all good things do, The Style Social Series produced by The Americana at Brand, has come to an end. The little treat I had to look forward to on Thursday nights is no more.  The series which featured, four blogger hosted events at four different stores, was a thrill to attend every week. The final event of the series was hosted at Kate Spade, by another one of my favorite bloggers, Joy Deangdeelert Cho. I love her design sensibility and the delectable food discoveries she features on her blog, Oh Joy!. If you want to know where to eat in LA then she’s your girl! Unlike the previous DIY events I’ve shared about here & here, the focus was on Joy’s entertainment tips, mingling, snacking and of course shopping. The bright and colorful Kate Spade store really gets you in the mood for spring and summer plus everything is so cute. It was hard to resist taking a picture of everything in sight!

Please chime in if you attended or simply enjoyed the photos! I always loving hearing from you!

Inspiring Ideas - Makeup & Style Books

images via Google

I love learning from the pros and getting inspiration from the beautiful images in makeup and style books, especially when having a consultation with brides. I often use these types of books for inspiration in combination with bridal magazines. They typically have high quality photos that can spark any bride’s creative imagination. Because there are so many available it can be a bit overwhelming trying to find the right book for your needs. One of the ways I narrow down the options is by determining if the artist and I have a similar design aesthetic or one that I admire. I also base my decision on whether or not the material in the book is trendy or classic. These books can be expensive so I'd rather not spend money on something that will not be useful in years to come. Another aspect to keep in mind is the purpose of purchasing the book in the first place. For example, if you are looking for a practical guide book then choosing one with lots of impractical high-fashion shots and skimpy text isn't a good idea. A step by step book like How to Have Style is more fitting. However, if you are looking for something with creatively inspiring photos then a big image heavy hardback is what you need. For that I’d recommend something like Making Faces. Take a look at the list have compiled of some of my favorite makeup and style books. I hope it can help guide you in finding some inspiration or practical tips.

images via Google

1. Making Faces & Face Forward by Kevyn Aucoin

2. Makeup Manual by Bobbi Brown

3.The One Hundred & Nina’s Look Book by Nina Garcia

4. About Face by Scott Barnes

5. How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi

6. Makeup Your Mind by Francois Nars

7. The Ellements of Personal Style by Joe Zee & Maggie Bullock

8. The Satorialist by Scott Schuman

9. The Basics of Beauty by Sam Fine

(All can be found on Amazon)

Do you have any favorite makeup and style book? Please share!

Table Mountain Proposal

 The saying is true, a picture is worth a thousand words but in this case a thousand emotions is more like it!

 

I snapped this photo while on vacation in Cape Town, South Africa. My husband and I were on top of Table Mountain taking in this spectacular view over looking the city. The gentleman you see above offered to take our picture first and asked if we could return the favor. Since we were both couples on vacation alone it was perfect. After he graciously took a couple photos of us, my husband began snapping their shots and low and behold, as you can see from the image, he popped the Big Question. I just love a surprise proposal don't you? I thought it was so cute that before bending down he said to my husband, "Okay, you're going to want be sure to get this mate. This is a big one!" in his proper British accent. We had no idea what he meant and neither did his love. He then proceeded to get down on one knee and she was as shocked and teary as any girl in love would be. All of the surrounding onlookers began to applaud and congratulate them as they came down from the rocks. We never get tired of sharing this fun memory from our trip. I'm so happy that I was able to share it with you - thanks for reading!

Style Social - A Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger Series [Part 2]

After having a blast at the first event in the Style Social Series the second couldn't come fast enough. This time around we met up at Urban Outfitters. We were hosted by bloggers Lauren Kolodny and Erica Chan Coffman of Honestly WTF along with jewelry designer Amanda Spencer of LUV AJ. On the agenda were two DIY projects - a market bag and one of two jewelry projects.

Urban Outfitters window, Americana fountain & U. O. sunnies

The Honestly girls led the way in showing us how to make a market bag out of a T-shirt. Like most of the DIYs that appear on their blog this project was simple, chic and fashionable. Plus, the only materials we needed were a T-shirt, scissors and a safety pin. I adore the Honestly WTF blog because it's filled with gorgeous images of on trend fashion, dreamy architecture, stylish DIY's and tons more - highly recommend it! After meeting the friendly and charming girls behind the blog I can't help but love it even more.

Lauren, me & Erica with my DIY market bag

Over at the LUV AJ table we were lucky enough to choose from one of the two generous kits - a handpiece or a bodychain. The handpiece is a bracelet with chains attached that wrap around your middle finger and the bodychain is a long necklace with chains that drape across the upper body from front to back. The jewelry project was not as easy as the market bag but Amanda and her staff were eagerly available to offer a hand where needed. I love the way my handpiece turned out – can’t wait to wear it! LUV AJ designs mixes tough and chunky metals with clean lines creating just the right blend of hard and soft with a modern influence. It’s no wonder her pieces are worn by so many celebrities, trendsetters and appear in top magazines.

 LUV AJ table & my DIY handpiece

As always I would love to hear from you! Are you planning to go to the next event? I’m looking forward to the last installment hosted by the author of Oh Joy!

Style Social - A Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger Series [Part 1]

image via designlovefest

Blog enthusiast? DIY obsessed? Creativity junky? If any of these apply to you then The Style Social Series is the place for you. The geniuses over at The Americana at Brand have put together a series of events to fulfill your thirst for style and design inspiration. The first event in the series was a DIY event held at Anthropologie. It was hosted by graphic designer Bri Emery of DesignLoveFest and Jen Gotch photographer and co-owner of Bando. My friend Josefa and I were among the guests excitedly making inspiration strings at tables loaded up with glitter, markers, stamps, stickers, neon string and more.

  

An inspiration string is what you get when you combine an inspiration board with a garland. Instead of pinning your collage of inspirations to a board you attach them to a string that can be hung anywhere - what a fun idea! One of the many bits of creative inspiration I took away was the idea of adding gold confetti inside balloons before blowing them up. I just love how it sprinkles around inside and adds an extra playfulness.

If you don’t already know about the blog DesignLoveFest,it’s one of my favorite places for a creative high, and certainly lives up to its name. As there mantra reads, it’s a place “where type and images totally make out.” And “totally make out”they do - in the most imaginative way possible. I told Bri she has my dream job and her response, “Which one, I have so many?” says it all. “I can’t decide so I do them all”, she added. If that doesn’t prove how she’s just gushing with creative talent then her blog sure does. Everyday I'm rushing over to see her latest masterpiece - make sure to check out her blog!

Jen's company Bando took the handmade accessory world by storm with their gorgeous flower pins, sequined hearts, and encrusted headbands - just to name a few. Since debuting in 2008 their whimsical and girly take on accessories has been popping up everywhere – from celebrities, to brides and babies. Bando designs jazz up any look - check 'em out!

image via The Americana at Brand

I would love to hear your thoughts on this event if you were able the attend or would’ve liked to. I’m so excited about the next events in series and can’t wait to share about the second event as well –stay tuned for Part 2! Are you looking forward to attending the next two events in the series? Let me know!

A Pop of Color - Wedding Inspiration

How fun, whimsical and vibrant is this wedding? I love how this gorgeous couple, Candice & Tony, incorporated loads of color into their special day!! I hope that these images will inspire you to get creative and have fun with color!

Special thanks to Melvin Gilbert for the beautiful images! Please check out his site: melvingilbert.com

A blog called "kissssing"

If you love vintage photography & quotes about love
you should visit this blog.

 images found here

INSPIRATION - Halloween Wedding

I've heard that October is the new June because

lately more and more couples are tying the knot in October.

This wedding was not only in October but on Halloween! 

Check out the unique way this couple embraced the would be spooky holiday.

 

Subtle touch of black & white in the form of a bow 

accented the bride's dress.

 

Do you spy the pumpkin colored flower girl? Too cute!

 The bride allowed her bridesmaids to display their wicked fashion sense.

Nothing says October and Halloween like pumpkins lining the aisle.

images via Once Wed

INSPIRING IDEAS - Gift Your Girls

Welcome to the Fashionably Wed blog!

Our first post is dedicated to one of my favorite things of all time - Gifts!  I love giving gifts, especially those which are unique and hold special meaning. Check out these two dreamy trinckets!

Vintage Locket

This beautiful vintage locket is filled with a lovely note. Doesn't everyone love a handwritten note?

images via 100 Layer Cake

The simple accordion fold is a clever step that makes this idea versatile enough for any size or style locket.

Brooch Necklace

image via 100 Layer Cake

With statement necklaces being all the rage, this brooch necklace is perfect for the fashionistas in your bridal party. Add a personal touch by finding pieces that reflect your bridesmaids personality.