the fairmount bride

A Wedding Gift that Will Grow

I saw this on Lucky Me! earlier in the month and I had to continue to share the idea.  For a unique wedding gift, how about ordering these wooden boxes from Not on the High Street.  They are stenciled with the names and wedding date, planted with fresh flowers and delivered directly to the happy couple's home.  I love it!

And I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Labor Day, filled with bbq's, cocktails and loved ones!  I am excited to be a part of my best friend's wedding in North Jersey, so I will most definitely be celebrating all weekend!  Looking forward to sharing all the beautiful pictures of what promises to be a wonderful day!

(photo from Not on the High Street via Bridalwave via Lucky Me!)

Learning More About Utah

My education of Utah's finest continues today with my introduction to the photography of Jonathan Canlas.  He is a super talented photographer, who only shoots in film, and because of that has an amazing quality to his pictures.  Here are some highlights from a wedding he shot last month.  Take special note of their adorable pooch...

This looks like a postcard to me!

I love the size of her bouquet, it isn't too overwhelming.

I love that they were able to have their dog be part of the big day!  He obviously is thrilled with it...  :)

How cute is he?!

This is a gorgeous picture.

A special thanks to Jenna for introducing me to Jonathan's work! 

(photos from Jonathan Canlas)

Candles with a Twist

I think that pretty much every wedding has some sort of candlelight, most popular probably being votives.  It is such an easy way to add beautiful ambiance, with the low light of the candles creating such a romantic feel.  I think this take on candles as table decoration adds an interesting spin; dressing up the candles, and tying a fresh flower on the vase for a special touch.

It's such an easy way to spruce up a dinner table with both the candlelight and the vivid colors of the fresh flowers.  Or maybe, incorporate an idea like this to put on your high top cocktail tables, so they don't sit bare.  Anyway you slice it, they will make a super cute addition to the decor.

(photo from Martha Stewart)

The Ponytail, Re-Invented

I have been searching for a hairstyle for my friend's wedding this weekend, I am in the bridal party.  I have always loved the classic low chignon, but I feel like I kind of want to do something a little bit different.  I found these couple styles of the low ponytail, curled, and pulled back more loosely. 

I just think these are so pretty and romantic, great for an end of summer wedding!

(photos from The Knot and InStyle)

Don't Know Much About Utah

I will say that I know absolutely nothing about Utah, however, I just found the work of  Duston Todd, who hails from there and whose photography is brilliant.  I absolutely love these shots that he captured of a recent bride and groom, he is super talented.

And lets also address how beautiful her dress is, perfect for a more laid back bride, with a great sense of style.

(photos from Duston Todd)

Dessert with a Family Twist

I am admitted dessert lover.  I mean, who isn't, right?!  However, I have a bit of an odd palette, in that I don't particularly care for cake.  Go figure.  I don't despise it, but it is on the bottom of my list of desserts.  I think it is this reason that I so love the idea of tins of homemade cookies or sweets  for a dessert option at a wedding. 

It is a great DIY project that could involve the best bakers in your family, each contributing their specialty.  I love the decorated tins, giving them an almost cozy feeling, like you are at your grandma's house, snitching one of her cookies.  Love it!

(photo from Brides.com)

Your Invited..

I can't believe that this is my 100th post, and I couldn't be more excited to have this post be the debut of our invitations!  They were finished, and mailed last week, thanks to my wonderful friend Meredith, of grafikmac designs, who was the brilliant designer behind both my invites, and save the dates.  So, without further ado..

We opted for invitations in chocolate brown envelopes to help keep all the information together in one place.  The stickers were purchased in white from Paper Source, and Meredith designed the logo and printed them. 

Our invite all put together.  We kept with the floral design that we had for the save the dates, however switching the font to brown and flower to a deep pink.

Our inserts with all the pertinent information for our travelers!  We used the deep pink font for the headers of each category, which included fun symbols to designate the category, and brown for the body of the text.

I always like the idea of not using the typical "Will attend," or "Will not attend."  So, instead, we used "Wouldn't miss it," or "Be there in spirit."

And last but not least, our map!  I was thrilled with how well my friend Jeannie created a map for our guests, similar to the one that was drawn for my parents wedding, almost 36 years ago.

As you may be able to tell, these are not professional pictures, so I apologize for the lack of quality!   However, if you are in the Philadelphia area, and looking for someone to design your invitations, you owe it to yourself to get in touch with grafikmac designs, and see the amazing portfolio in person.  Meredith is so talented, and will work with you to design exactly what you are looking for!   I can't say enough good things about my experience! 

My Wedding Inspiration

I am always inspired by real weddings, I love seeing the color combinations and the details that make the day their own.  But nothing has inspired me quite like Erika & Kenny's wedding, which was designed by Modern Day Design.  Camille's work is nothing short of stunning, and I fell in love with way she used multiple shades of pinks, and various flowers to create a beautiful event.  BB Photography was the talent behind the lens, and kind enough to share some of the details with me! 

 

Just amazing...

(photos from BB Photography)

Ring Cushions

I was thrilled when Anna Whitford sent me an email to introduce me to her hand sculpted floral wedding ring cushions.  They are so pretty, and I like that they can be bought as is or custom made, upon request.  A couple examples that particularly caught my eye..

Not only was I taken with her ring cushions, but her other designs as well.  Anna is a UK textile designer who also makes sculptural fashion and interior accessories.  Being a new home owner, I find myself on a permanent search for items to spruce up the house.  Her pillow designs would definitely do the trick, adding a nice pop of color, to my otherwise monochromatic couch! 

 

Make sure to check out Anna's website to see these, and many others!

(photos from Anna Whitford)

A Simple Bridesmaid Bouquet

I am always amazed at the beautiful bouquets that I see bridesmaid's carry, some so big that I don't know how they wrap their hand around the stems, and some on the smaller side, even just a single flower.  They are equally gorgeous, but I happen to be a fan of the smaller, more understated bouquet.  Maybe it is a practicality thing, as I often wonder what happens to them after you carry them down the aisle.  But, I think that a smaller bouquet, without a lot of flare, can be an easy accent of color, complimenting the dress that is worn, but not taking it over. 

With these particular bouquets, I like the longer stems and smaller ribbons, almost looking as if they were just picked and tied together. 

(photo from Martha Stewart)