Monday Musings

After waging a losing battle with Ann Taylor LOFT to have an order sent to the correct address for most of  today, I needed to relax and look at pretty pictures. Kristi of Luna and Chloe Weddings always puts together the sweetest tablescapes. She styled this gem for Over The Moon Vintage Rentals, her super stylish vintage event rentals business, which is a part of the Inspired Collective shop in Northern California. Can't you just imagine this as a guest book table or escort card table? Stop by these sites and take a peek around - so much lovely inspiration!

photo from Luna and Chloe Weddings

Vintage Travel Shoot from Chic Design Studios

When Kimberly Watt of Chic Design Studios in Salt Lake City sent this amazing shoot my way, I was so excited. If you know me or have followed my blog for a while, you know that I love me a vintage inspired road trip (see exhibits A and B). This shoot perfectly evokes a vintage-road trip travel theme with a modern splash of color from the lovely green and yellow color scheme, which, being a University of Oregon Duck, I naturally love! Vintage gas stations, country fields, retro dessert buffet, a bright ruffled cake and a splash of vintage Americana make this shoot so awesomely awesome. Scroll on to get lost in this lovely bit of retro road trip bliss...

From Kimberly Watt of Chic Design Studios: "With the age of airplanes and fast travel, road trips are something of the past. We decided to make this our theme - thus the road maps, globe, and travel details. I chose the colors for the shoot because as much as I love soft pinks, peach, and cream, I was ready for something else! The colors yellow, green, white, and black were used to show brides they can achieve that great vintage feel with any color.

The fashion inspiration from this shoot came from the dress. My mother and I found the dress while searching through an old trunk of my grandmothers. We later found out that the dress belonged to my Aunt. I knew then that I wanted to see the dress worn by someone!

The dessert table featured a fantastic ruffle cake along with donut kabobs, cupcakes and old soda pop bottles displayed in a white tin to keep cool. The curly willow backdrop was the perfect accent to the table. The backdrop featured dancing ribbon and a vintage chandelier. The favor was a mason jar filled with trail mix and stamped with a “Thank You” tag. The flowers used in the shoot where orchids, china mum, roses, billy balls, and gerbera daisies. I chose this combination to show that you can mix the more modern orchids with the more rustic daisies and mums.

By adding these vintage details I hope guests will feel a moment of nostalgia and take a moment to remember past memories."

Thanks so much to Kimberly (and the fab Utah vendors who contributed to the shoot) for sharing!

Credits:

Photography - Ceniza Studios 

Florals & Staging - Chic Design Studios 

Stationary - Polka Dots & Daisies

Cake - Pink Peach Cakes 

Table & Chairs - Alpine Event Rentals 

Cupcakes - So Cupcake 

Vintage Summer Picnic

Because I don't just love weddings but also entertaining in general, I wanted to share this sweet summer picnic that reader Lisa sent my way! She put together a cute vintage inspired summer picnic in the park with a classic picnic menu including sandwiches, fried chicken and macaroni salad.

From Lisa: "I used plenty of little lanterns, old soda crates, fresh flowers, and my mom's vintage tablecloth to set the table."

"Jars are an excellent way to hold picnic food! They transport easily and look much prettier than tupperware. It's a simple way to add beauty to the table and still keep it functional."

"Wrapping each sandwich individually in parchment paper

gives it that extra special restaurant style touch!"

Wrapping plastic cutlery in cute patterned napkins and trying them with twine is such an inexpensive and fun way to bring some cuteness to utilitarian items.

"I used mini buckets for individual beverage icers to keep drinks super cold."

Lisa's American Summer Picnic Menu:

Homemade Cold Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Sandwiches filled with cold cuts and veggies

Egg Salad sandwiches

Macaroni salad 

Fresh Melon Ball salad with a caramelized orange juice & ginger sauce

Tapioca pudding with fresh blackberries and whipped cream

Layered Green Salad with homemade dressing

Homemade Chocolate Sheet cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting

Gourmet potato chips

Thanks so much to Lisa of Moore Minutes for sharing this adorable picnic with us today! 

Real Wedding: Backyard Vintage in Arizona

There is something so sweet, simple and endearing about a backyard wedding. Growing up, it feels like so many happy memories took place in our backyards. Having a backyard wedding creates a new memory for you as a couple and for your family, friends and loved ones who have all watched you two grow up to cherish. I love the warm and homey feeling that backyards give to weddings, and the money saver that they can be for couples not wanting to break the bank on their wedding. 

This Gilbert, Arizona wedding photographed by Ben Christensen is the perfect example. Kristine and Matt's wedding took place in a backyard surrounded by close family and friends, and tons of lovely homespun + vintage-inspired DIY details like lace and ribbon decorated backdrops, flowers in bottles, hanging tea lights and bistro lights strung in pretty swags all over. 

Thanks so much to Ben Christensen for sharing these today!

Photography by Ben Christensen Photography

Pretty Vintage Cakes by Enlightened Patisserie

My friend Nickol Hayden-Cady of Enlightened Patisserie participated in the Bravo! Central Oregon Wedding Affair show this past weekend, and I was so excited to be able to help her with some decor and DIY projects for the show. Working with a vintage antique theme, we made DIY antique book page pinwheels with buttons and tissue paper poms which were hung on vintage doors, old window frames and curtains as curtain ties. Nickol showcased 14 different and seriously amazing cakes that she crafted for the occasion, all with a vintage theme, that were placed on her collection of vintage cake stands and stacked on old books. She also set up an antique dessert table with a meringue cake, macarons, madelines, tiny meringues and rock candy that was so perfect! 

Pretty amazing, right?? I am constantly amazed at Nickol's work - her cakes feature ruffles, cameos, flowers, feathers, and pearls and she's not afraid of color or thinking outside the (cake) box, which I love about her!

Cakes and photos by Enlightened Patisserie

Inspired By: Boardwalk Empire

The season finale of HBO's Boardwalk Empire was this past Sunday night, and I have to admit, I love a period show/film especially if its done well. Boardwalk Empire definitely was, and watching it was a Sunday night ritual with my husband. Even if I was (admittedly) squeamish at first about the violence and gangster theme in the show, I was won over by the storylines, acting, directing, cinematography, sets, and especially the costumes. I couldn't help but notice the effect that Boardwalk Empire has had lately on fashion, its amazing to see after such a short time! I thought I'd share some of my personal faves I've found that speak to the 1920's - 30's Prohibition era that Boardwalk Empire is set in - a time of Champagne, shorter hemlines, and all night dancing. 

 Boardwalk Empire photo from Vanity Fair

By Cover of Cirrus dress, $77.99 

(a steal of a vintage style wedding dress!)

Cinema Foyer Dress, $139.99

Refresh Mint dress, $47.99 

She Sees in Sepia dress, $154.99 

Tender is the Night dress, $69.99

Boardwalk Empire photo from Vanity Fair

And now, because it is Tuesday Shoesday afterall, some shoes...

Buttons and Bows heel, $37.99 (also comes in grey)

 Cuckoo Bootie, $119.99

Flashing Lights heel, $132.99

 If It Ain't Got that Bling heel, $104.99

Rose Tea-Strap heel, $127.99

No flapper girl would be complete without her long pearl necklace.

Pearl Glam necklace, $39.99

And no 1920's reception table would be complete without a table lamp!

  These lovelies from the MoMA store transform any regular wine glass into a lovely little 1920's inspired table lamp:

Wine Glass Lampshades, 3 for $16

The Boardwalk Empire set drank exclusively from champagne saucers (also called coupes). These pretties from Kate Spade have Mr. and Mrs. imprinted on them, perfect for your 1st married champagne toast. kate spade "Darling Point" champagne saucer pair, $80 

In the latest issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, there was the prettiest 1920's style shoot you ever did see by Jillian Event Design. So many swoon worthy period details here, from the invitations by Thoughtful Day to the signature cocktail and the prohibition style bar venue!

Photos by Anna Wolf Photography via Southern Weddings

Want some more Prohibition Era inspiration? Check out this amazing wedding I featured a while back.

Hope you enjoyed some of my Boardwalk Empire inspired finds! Have a lovely Tuesday - xo Annie