It's Wedding Wednesday {YAY!!!} and we wanted to take this opportunity to share another pattern laden creation... this time however, it was created by us! It was so much fun working with Carolyn and Chris to create their Tory Burch inspired letterpress invitation suite. We sprinkled in some nautical touches to highlight the gorgeous venue they were to be wed at... the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. Everything about this suite is screaming of an elegant preppy beach soiree- which is exactly what the wedding was... every last perfect detail.
*Photos courtesy of Laura Ashbrook Photography
Geometric love
Happy Monday!! Lately we've been swooning over wedding cakes- specifically ones with fancy geometric patterns. How fabulous is this round up of sugary sweet circles, stripes, diamonds and squares?! Which one would you pick?
2: Mark Joseph Cakes via Martha Stewart
The trendy fruit
HAPPY FRIDAY! Honestly, I'm a little sad that the weekend is here {#ilovemyjob} but who doesn't need a few days of relaxation and errand running to get caught up?! Hopefully you have some fun plans in store?? For the last few months, we've been hearing left and right that one of the hottest colors for 2012 is "Tangerine Tango". Not only is the name just adorbs, but the color is so vibrant and fun. While the actual Tangerine Tango is a specific shade, we're embracing all that is orange and loving every bit of it...
{Blouse; Bracelet; Tote; Pantone mug; Nail polish; Candle holders; Pillow}
To add some splashes of Tangerine Tango to your home, check out this round up of bright and orangey home goods!
High and Low
A couple of my recently engaged gals are in the process of searching high and low for the perfect wedding gown. While doing a little searching of my own to help with ideas, I stumbled across one Fall 2012 trend that I'm on the fence about: high- to- low hemlines. Have you seen these yet?! I'm just dying to know what you think, so please, leave a comment and let us know if you love them or hate them, if you would sport the trend or if you were super fashion forward and already donned a gown of that style!
Pnina Tornai Exclusively for Kleinfeld
*Photos courtesy of Brides.com
A Rustic Chic Indiana Wedding
Ever since the photos of Kristen and Nathaniel's home spun wedding crossed our path, we've been dying to share them with you! This adorable couple went above and beyond with sentimental details to fill their rustic Indiana barn with the story of their love. Ruth Elieen Photography was there to capture every minute and Kristien {the beaming bride} was so kind to share with us her memories from the big day!
From Kristen's perspective: Best. Day. Of. My. Life. It was so much fun and fit our personalities and lifestyles perfectly. From the whole wedding party donning cowboy boots--to Dr. Seuss being read during the ceremony-- to covering my husband in cake (which I'm still proud of)--everything was perfect. We wanted to have a short, simple ceremony and then let the party begin...which is exactly what happened. The most memorable moment on the dance floor, though, had to be my father. Videos of him dancing are now floating throughout the internet!!
It's all about the details: Growing up, Nathaniel and I have always been involved in our family farms, so barns, cowboy boots, burlap, whiskey barrels, mason jars, and chicken and mashed potatoes were a must. I grew up in a log cabin, so I wanted this same feel for our reception. My mother and I spent over a year searching through books and online for rustic decor ideas. We loved including a table with vintage photos of our parents and grandparents as well. While many of the decorations were homemade, Etsy was also a great resource.
Advice from the bride: I highly recommend wearing cowboy boots with a wedding dress- they're much more comfortable than heels and make for some great pictures. Also, any brides who are looking for a photographer, check out Ruth Elieen Photography! Getting pictures taken were one of the best parts of the day and Ruth was a blast to work with.
{Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography :: Venue: Amish Acres :: Wedding gown: Posie Patch :: Bridesmaids dresses: Mori Lee :: Florist: Sue's Creations :: Cake: The Cake Lady}
Letterpress Cookies?!
Yes friendies, it's true and oh-so-awesome. Needless to say, these Letterpress Chocolate Dipped Lemon Sugar Cookies have been calling our names. And, wouldn't they would be such an awesome party favor for a birthday?
{via}
Letterpress stamps {in both letters and numbers} can be found in a variety of places and in an array of fonts. Etsy is a great place to search and this shop is one of our faves. Remember that the letters & numbers need to look "backwards" when looking at the blocks in order for them to appear normal on the cookies.
Pretty stinkin' cute for a fancified sugar cookie, right?!
Happy New Year!
Happy 2012!!! We hope to heavens that you had a magical holiday season and are filled with hope and anticipation for what 2012 has in store. New Years is one of my favorite times to reflect and celebrate the happenings of the past year {both good and bad} and get geared up to tackle those goals for the year to come. Did you make any exciting resolutions this year?! We all know that the first 2 weeks in January are nearly effortless to kick off those resolutions... but after that, the challenge sets in. Speaking from experience, we're determined that this year will be different, and this goal tracker will help with some accountability.
{via}
Brilliant, right? And only $15!
Do you guys have any other ideas to help with keeping those resolutions?
Wedding inspiration: winter white & purple
Southern Weddings is one place that just ignites our wedding inspiration and keeps ideas flooding in. If you're not a regular over at their site {or their magazine} please sister, become one- you will not be disappointed! This year we've loved seeing shades of purple make it's way into wedding color palettes. Regardless of what season the nuptials are taking place, this color adds romance, fun and elegance. This inspiration shoot over on Southern Weddings only makes us fall harder- the warm candle light, shimmering tree, vintage lace, all in winter white, rich purples and accented with gold- what's not to love?
I just love how they used pinecones at each place setting to add that rustic element and a punch of texture. Be sure and check out the rest of these gorgeous photos to see the hot cocoa bar they had... complete with vanilla chai and cider options! What a sweet idea for a winter wedding!!
*Photos courtesy of Chudleigh Weddings via Southern Weddings
Winter wedding trend: Pinecones
One of my favorite things about winter weddings is the fact that something can be simultaneously romantic, chic and cozy. It's a rare occasion that all 3 of these are combined but this glitzy pinecone inspiration board sums it up quite nicely! Perfectly rustic chic, don't you think? Truly, I can't think of a better winter wedding decoration- pinecones are plentiful {almost obnoxiously so}, inexpensive and they add texture and shape to so many details. WIN!
{Clockwise from top: via, via, via, via, via, via, via, via}
For all those brides who are dreaming up ideas for your winter wedding, may you be inspired! Even though we're not in wedding planning mode, some of these ideas are so fun they may just sneak into the holiday home decor!!
A new tradition
Growing up, one of the best parts about the weeks leading up to Christmas was getting a tree, decorating it as a family and admiring the glittering lights in anticipation. Now that we're all gown up, the fam has been more focused on the meaning of the holiday & the relationships that are so dear.
While visiting a friend the other day, she mentioned that their family had made an effort to "make" a Christmas tree every year. This has granted them a memorable family tradition and allowed them to spend less. Not to mention that it has taken some emphasis away from the tree and put more emphasis on the importance of being generous to those less fortunate. The end product of this years creation was something the whole family could be proud of- still with all the lights and ornaments. 
{via}
Seeing how they were so creative with their "tree" was inspiring and a good challenge to not get wrapped up in having a grand color coordinated, themed tree and obsessing over all of the festive little details. This time of year is meant to be shared with loved ones, spend quality time and be generous with the ways we've been blessed.
Do you have any unique traditions to preserve the sweetness of the season?
Falling in love
Fall and winter have always seemed like such a romantic time to get engaged. There is something so magical about this time of year and having such a significant moment occur in the midst of it all would make it all the more incredible! Plus, how fun would it be to do an engagement shoot spotted over at Love and Lavender?!
Adoring this in every way!! What time of year did you get engaged & did you get to do any fun engagement shoots?
*Photos courtesy of Connection Photography
Here's to all that you're thankful for
Thanksgiving is TOMORROW!! Words can't describe just how excited I am for the holiday this year- the list of things I'm thankful for is ever growing and I've been jotting them down here and there. To have a whole day to reflect on the many ways we're blessed, now that sounds like paradise! :) So while you're putting those final touches on the big dinner {or lunch} or when you and your loved ones toast all the things you're thankful for, try out this festive Apple Cider Margarita!
{via}
Safe travels if you're heading out of town for the holiday. If you're the one hosting, don't forget to check out some of our other fun Thanksgiving related ideas:
Looking for a new tradition with friends and family?
Bring in some super easy & festive candle holders to create ambience.
Make a super cute place card to wow your guests or if you're ambitious, try this table-scape.
Try incorporating mason jars for a rustic chic spin on holiday decorations & food presentation.
To finish off the meal, try one of these to-die-for desserts!
Friday Funday!
FINALLY... it's Friday! After a loooong week, some rest, relaxation and a lot of craft time is on the agenda for this weekend. In the process of re-decorating my bedroom, my DIY list is ever growing but I'm determined to make some headway in these next couple of days. While in anticipating "go time" I wanted to share with you guys what's on the agenda... just incase you too are looking for some fun weekend crafting! The walls on my room are just begging to be covered and I've completely fallen for these 2 bright ideas... haha, get it?! Anyway, this Paint Swatch creation from A Beautiful Mess looks super easy and will bring together my color palette!
{via}
Granted, I'm not in love with having it say "Me, too!" so I'll have to think of another saying. Any ideas?! I need your help on this one!!
And not surprisingly, I've been mesmerized by the art that adorns the wall of any Kate Spade boutique. If you've been in before, you've probably seen it... the infamous raspberry & white ampersand hanging out, smiling back at you.
{via}
Well,the super cute Carrie of 2 Friends & 2 Cities shares my love of this piece and came up with a DIY tutorial. Can't wait to dig in and get crafting!
{via}
What are you guys up to this weekend?!
Oh and last but NOT least... the winner of our Holiday Card Giveaway is Alexa!! We'll be contacting you with more details shortly. Thanks to all who entered... and keep your eyes open for more giveaways coming up! :)
Happy Friday!
xo
Fur heavens sake!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving being next week, we're paying much more attention to things to be thankful for. One thing that I'm extra thankful for, being that it's Wedding Wednesday and all, is the fact that fur is so in style for fall & winter weddings! You may have caught that I {Anna} LOVE fur coats and wish oh-so-badly that they were in fashion for everyday wear. Of course, it's hard to find a happy median between finding faux fur that doesn't look cheap... and selling a kidney to buy a real fur. Of course, if you did the latter, you'd have some of your PETA neighbors shaking those fingers. All that aside, how fabulously chic are these brides bundled in their furs?
{via}
{photos clockwise from right: via, via, via, via, via}
And if you're a fall or winter bride in the market for something cuddly to keep you warm on the big day, perhaps this little bolero from BHLDN strikes your fancy?!
Completely, 100% swooning over this bolero! This fur trend is enough to make me want a fall or winter wedding!!!
Just 10 days!
Can you believe there are just 10 days until Thanksgiving?? We're kind of freaking out about how fast time is flying by! While in the process of solidifying the upcoming holiday plans, I {Anna} can't help but to be a little bummed that I'm not spending the traditional Thanksgiving with my family in Seattle. Each year I'm responsible for the table decor... and I just adore putting together festive dishes with table runners, candles, a seasonally appropriate center piece and place cards. I'm convinced that my brothers still think I'm a freak for going to such great lengths but my fingers are crossed that deep down they love it! :) Anyway, I ran across this super cute idea on Jones Design Company Blog and couldn't resist passing it along! If you're the one in your family who "sets" the table, hopefully this grants you some inspiration!
SO cute, right?! But my favorite part are the thankfulness cards that your guests can write on...
Oh how I love this time of year!!!! To see the rest of their fun ideas and to download the template for these adorable thankfulness cards, go here. Enjoy!
**Don't forget to enter to win a set of our Letterpress Holiday Cards!**
*Photos courtesy of Jones Design Company
Real Weddings: Tijana & Tyler
If you're a regular visitor of Style Me Pretty, you might have caught a glimpse of this wedding that was featured last week. We've been giddy with the anticipation of sharing this beautiful day and the fun invitation suite we created to set the tone!! Tijana and Tyler wanted a vintage Parisian feel and drew inspiration from Coco Chanel. Their stationery conveyed such a fun elegance!
The big day took place at the gorgeous US Grant Hotel- the architecture alone provided beautiful decor, but Tijana and Tyler also planned out loads of details to make sure nothing was forgotten. I have to apologize in advance- there were so many STUNNING pictures to choose from that I not only had a hard time deciding which to share, but this has resulted in a major vendor crush on Laura Ashbrook Photography!!! They captured this wedding so perfectly... I think you'll agree!
Ahhhhh! Are you just swooning?! I just love the flowers by Floral Palette as well! What an amazing day!!
For more on Tijana and Tyler's wedding, check out their feature {and gallery} on Style Me Prettyand take a gander at their wedding videoby Epitome Visions.
*All photos are courtesy of Laura Ashbrook Photography
Cabin chic
Happy Monday darlings! How was your weekend? Is it just me or has time been flying by so stinkin' fast lately? I swear it was just the 4th of July!!! We hope that you had as much fun as we did with all of the "Fall Favorites" inspiration last week! This weekend we had the chance to escape the city and head to a little cabin in Virginia. Let me tell you, this getaway was much needed! In its anticipation and even now as I'm home, I find myself dreaming of my own future cabin and all of the goodies that I'd cram in there for a rustic chic ambience. How sweet would it be to cozy up next to the fire in one of these places??
{via}
{via}
{via}
{via}
{via}
The rustic combination of wood and shades of stone in contrast with clean white and beige... it's just perfect! Decorating with antlers adds such a unique dimension and texture too and luckily if you're not a hunter, faux antlers are pretty easy to find these days! Said cabin may not come for awhile {or ever} but hey, a girl can dream, right?
Which do you prefer- a mountain cabin or a beach house??
Fall Favorites: Lovely Little Details
{image by Hugh Forte}
Hello Pearls for Paper readers! Can I tell you how excited I am to be visiting today? Emily and Anna are some of the loveliest people I've "met" (cocktails in Boston soon, please?) in this crazy wedding world, and I am just so honored to be paying a visit to the blog today :)
Oh! Maybe I should introduce myself as well? I'm Jacin, and I am an event designer/planner living in San Francisco but originally from Connecticut, and I also have a blog under my company name, Lovely Little Details. You can take the girl out of New England, but you can't take the New England out of the girl, right? So it goes without saying that I just love mason jars. Before you roll your eyes and sigh, let me back up a bit. Masons are more than just pretty decor to me, I promise. Though they are a lovely wedding trend, I actually love them because they remind me of my late grandmother, Mimi, who was the queen of canning - from jams to pickles to homemade tomato juice (best bloody mary ever, anyone?) - she knew how to make it and every time we visited her, we'd end up with a special jar of one of her labors of love. I've never shared the image below, but it is my favorite picture and I think it depicts her perfectly. Isn't she the sweetest?
So... when Anna asked me to stop by today and talk about my favorite uses for masons in the fall, I happily obliged :) Here are some of my faves!
{image by Hugh Forte}
I love how Nancy of So Happi Together added these adorable oak leave cutouts to mason jars for guests to use as place cards and drinking cups. So sweet, and perfect for fall, don't you think? I'm picturing a big canteen of hot apple cider right in the middle for an autumn gathering, or maybe if you want to jazz up your college football tailgate. Yes, my husband might be mortified, but at least it would look cute, right?
{etsy seller meganEsass}
Next up, why should we be the ones who get to enjoy our comfy fall sweaters? Kidding, but aren't these hand-knit mason jar "coozies" created by Megan Esass just so sweet? They'd be perfect for your Thanksgiving side table, or even as part of the centerpiece.
{Confession: I don't like apple pie. Phew! I said it. But there's nothing like the smell of homemade apple pie with the cinnamon and spices filling the air, and to me, it automatically reminds me of the fall. That and pumpkin pie. The concept of pies in a jar will never get old to me, and I especially love the pumpkin pies - wouldn't that be a fun gift for your guests to take home after a dinner party? {Here's the step by step instructions from Our Best Bites}.
{Obviously, besides canning, my next favorite use for masons is as a simple and pretty vase. I love flowers, they just make me happy. Add a few wheat stalks, or a single dinnerplate dahlia bloom, and you've got yourself a gorgeous centerpiece. The image above is one of my ultimate faves.
{
Lastly, I just stumbled upon this last week over on You Stir Me (one of my faves!) where Laura craftily adapted the Thank You Jar idea from Young House Love in to a mason jar instead of a topiary jar. The concept is that you and your family write down something you are thankful for everyday leading up to Thanksgiving, and then you read them. I just love this idea and have a big blue mason just waiting to be filled.
Thanks again Anna & Emily for having me visit today - hope you all enjoy your holiday season, mason jars and all :)
xoxo jacin
Fall Favorites: You Stir Me
Hi lovelies! I'm Laura from You Stir Me and I'm so happy to be visiting the gals at Pearls for Paper today and sharing a fun and easy DIY with you! This week is all about fall favorites and my absolute favorite thing to do this time of year is dream about all the prettiness in store for the holiday season. As soon as the first brisk fall morning peeks it's little nose around here, I instantly dive into all the holiday inspiration I've been squirreling away and have at it. Here's a little DIY I came up with, perfect for your Thanksgiving table or for those crafty brides out there wanting a homespun twist for their place cards.
DIY Wreath Place Cards
You Will Need: A wreath (I used a vine wreath I had laying around but you can use a Styrofoam or cardboard one if you like!) Yarn Ribbon Glue gun Decorative accents Name Tag Scissors
Step 1: Tie one end of your yarn around the wreath and wrap the yarn all around the wreath. Tie it off when completed.
Step 2: With your glue gun, begin to glue the decorative accents to the wreath. I like to poke the ends of the accents into the wreath and hide them underneath the yarn. Be sneaky. Feel free to add as little or as much as you like! I was going to use the gold glitter ornament you see in the pictures but nixed it last minute. Editing down my crafts is not easy for me!
Step 3: Thread a piece of yarn through the name tag and tie it around the wreath. Loop your ribbon around the top, leaving the two ends untied. You'll use the ends to tie the wreath around your napkin.
Step 4: Place your wreath on your napkin and tie the ribbon ends behind the napkin. Sit back and enjoy!
Wouldn't it be such a fun idea if you made new Thanksgiving wreath place cards each year and everyone in your family started a collection of the wreaths over the years? You could hang them up on the Christmas tree or create a pretty garland to ring in the holiday season. Make sure to snip off the name tags, of course. Think of all the fun little things you could glue to the wreaths for a kids table!
My family might be seeing some little wreaths at their seats come Thanksgiving...
Fall Favorites: Cornflake dreams
Hello! It's Jillian from Cornflake Dreams, a life and style blog about all the dreamy things in life and travels abroad. I had the pleasure of meeting Anna + Emily during the Rendez-Vous New England Event in Boston this past September and I am thrilled to be guest posting on Pearls for Paper!
Today I would love to share with you my favorite family tradition. Every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter my mom's side of the family gets together for a large dinner and at the end of the meal we all sign the tablecloth! Each holiday has a separate vintage tablecloth that we use every year. We sign in permanent marker and then a family friend embroiders the signatures in holiday-colored thread. everyone signs their name + the year and kids will draw a small picture. Guests are encouraged to sign and it's fun to see who has attended the dinners over the years and how our signature has changed. When I lived in Charleston, I included a small palm tree by my signature and I even think the easter tablecloth has "Jillian DiCaprio" somewhere on it from my Titanic days.
My friends and I are starting to get together for Thanksgiving every year and I am thinking about starting this tradition with them. It's a beautiful keepsake that is purposeful and unique!
What are your favorite family traditions?
xo,
jillian of cornflake dreams