The Polarising Peplum!

Peplums are absolutely everywhere at the moment and are  definitely a strong presence in bridal trends. I find that some people love them, and some hate them, there isn’t much middle ground. If you aren’t sure what a peplum is (such a funny word!), it is a flare or ruffle at the waist of the jacket, blouse, dress or skirt, which are amazing for defining the waist and can be really structured or softly flowing.

Have a look at some of the many different different styles of peplums gracing wedding dresses at the moment, from romantically lacy to strikingly modern, subtle or very over the top.

Image credits: collage 1 (left to right): Badgley Mischka via Publiboda, Angel Sanchez via Martha Stewart Weddings,  via J’adore Fashion Love, Amsale via Martha Stewart Weddings Collage 2: Noir by Lazaro via Blue Gowns, white gown via Brides.com  Collage 3: all from Blue Gowns Last photo: via Saphire Event Group

I personally am a fan of this style. Not sure if I would have one on my wedding dress, but check out this amazing top I just bought and can’t wait to wear!

Such a feminine shape, modernised with rad geometric patterns and easily dressed up or down – thanks ASOS, I love you.

Beverages and blooms

via Oh the Lovely Things 

How could you not love this magical combination – effervescent, candy coloured tipples flirting with the jewel colours of ranunculus, poppies, peonies and roses.

Photo credits: top flowers by Natalie of nbarrett photography via Ruffled, jug of cocktail by Annabella Charles via Wedding Chicks, middle flowers by Mint & Sage via Fiore Fresco, jars by Katie Quinn Davies via What Katie Ate

Photo credits: clockwise from top left – 1: Mowie Kay via Everything Fab, 2:  Matt Miller via Ruffled, 3: A Cup of Mai, 4: Taylor Lord via Ruffled

Photo credits: top via Kate Spade NY, bottom right LCBO, bottom left Pepper of Peppernix Photography  via Ella Bella

Oh gosh, so much pink! I think I have a problem.

Of course, I am not going to tease you with these lusciously concocted drinks and not provide you with some recipes!

Apple, ginger & cranberry vodka cocktail {mason jars in wooden tray}

1 cup cloudy apple juice
1 cup cranberry juice
50 ml vodka
Ginger ale
Ice

Place apple juice, cranberry juice and vodka into the jug of an electric blender & whisk until light pink & frothy. Pour into a serving jug, top with one cup of ginger ale and a good handful of ice.

Raspberry beer cocktail {jar with straw}

1 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries
4 bottles of corona (12oz) beer, chilled
1 container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed or pink lemonade (**Leah’s note – I would make home made lemonade rather than use concentrate, but that would make an easy option)
1/2 cup good quality vodka
Garnish: lemon slices, or raspberries

In a large container stir together the beer, lemonade or lemonade concentrate and vodka. Serve over ice and garnish with raspberries.

And because not everyone partakes in alcoholic beverages, here is the recipe for the pink passion lemonade, the light pink drink served in glasses on the tray above. Actually, I reckon this would be amazing as the base for the raspberry beer cocktail recipe instead of the concentrate. Just my two cents!

Pink Passion Lemonade

4 lemons, juice only
4 passion fruit, juice only
3 cups water
3/4 unrefined sugar
2-3 drops natural pink food colouring

Mix together and serve with ice.

Any of the drinks above would be awesome with a popsicle dunked in it too, just perfect for a summer wedding! Yum. Can you tell it was 30 degrees here in Melbourne today? I’m amped.

via Lauryn Galloway

Playing the blushing bride over on A Little Rouge

Photo credit: Craig Pearce of Urban Cartel 

Recently, my very talented friend Jemma asked me over to her delightful cottage/villa, fed me delicious home made lemonade and made me up for her portfolio, which was super fun. Because I write A Cast of Two, she created a natural, glowy bridal look – I was amazed at her skill and patience, and the result was really rather pretty!

Jump over to her blog A Little Rouge to check out the results and admire her work, and grab some clever, practical and fun make up tips while you are at it. I love the way Jem uses such inventive methods to achieve the desired effect, and is great at reminding us all that you do not have to spend a lot of money to get amazing beauty products.

Thanks Jemma! I spent the rest of the day feeling very glamorous.

Nerdy lace

Photography credit: Kylie Minogue by Jean Paul Gaultier via Metalocus. Poster for “de Young Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco”.

Laser cut lace was big on the catwalks for Spring/Summer 2013, and I love the way it puts a really modern spin on  lace patterning. Enjoying all of the beautiful, intricate designs there are floating around at the moment, on everything from invitations to dresses, and shoes to cupcake wrappers. I have even seen a few cakes with the icing painstakingly cut out to mimic lace, giving it a laser cut feel. Very cool!

Credits left to right: Elizabeth Duncan events, Louis Vuitton via Vogue , Elizabeth Fillmore via Brides.com, Giles Deacon via I Am Fashion

I love the versatility – the way you can layer it over a coloured fabric, or show a peek of skin. I think it looks amazing with a flash of bright lippie or a coloured shoe, or go for coloured laser cut lace for real impact. So striking!

 

Photography credit: Mariana Braga by Steven Chee, styled by Marina Didovich

A celebration of embellished bridal finery

Kevin Macintosh for Italian Vogue Gioiello

The shine of sequins, a spattering of crystals and the textural intricacy of beading, lace or embroidery can create beautiful visual interest on your wedding day, and is a great way to add sensuality and romance to the ‘feel’ of your outfit. In searching for these images I came across so many amazing ways to add embellishment to your wedding dress and accessories, as well as all kinds of beautiful patterns and textures, all adding so much intrigue and eye catching life to fabric.

Its all in the details – breath taking, decadent, sweet, sumptuous and fit for Marie Antoinette!

Image Credits: White beading detail via The Lane, Plunging lace dress via The Lane,  Embellished bodice by Judy Pak Photography via Style Me Pretty, Mint lace dress via The Lane, Green and gold print by Irene Suchocki for Eye Poetry Photography, via Etsy, Embellished white shoes, via The Lane, Silver shoes by Woodward & Rick photographers via Style Me Pretty, Beige gloves by Imajica Photography via Style Me Pretty, White gloves via The Lane, Embellished cut out dress via The Lane, Embellished detailing on fawn dress via The Lane, 4 x Anna Campbell gowns via Wedding Chicks, Backless dress by Inbal Dror via Fashion Bride, Headband via Jennifer Behr

Dreamy Swedish Bridal Wear

My friend recently alerted me to a Swedish designer who has the most dreamily beautiful, diverse and  stunning bridal range. The designer is Ida Sjostedt and I am in love. There really is something for everyone, all modelled lusciously against lovely backdrops with very atmospheric photography.

My favourites below, and see the full range here.

Thanks Michaela! ♥

Wedding trend – ruffling some feathers

I have to say, I am a big fan of this trend. Although, I do believe caution should be exercised with this one. A bit of subtlety is a good thing! I am biased towards shorter dresses with beautiful feathery detailing, sweet head pieces and a feathery appearance on a shoe, bouquet or (if plumage makes you feel a bit birdlike) incorporated into your decor. I love how feathers can look quite formal and regal, or very fun and playful depending on how you choose to use them.

I have put together a slide show of some of my favourite feathery looks for your viewing pleasure.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

See?! Truly beautiful in small doses.

P.S Did you notice I totally resisted saying ‘birds of a feather’ anywhere in this post? Soooo hard.

Photography credits: Feathery shoes, Feather headband via Twigs and Honey, Feather bunting, photo by Weaver House via Green Wedding Shoes, Ultra short feathery dress via Martha Stewart weddings, Feathery shoulders via la mariee aux pieds nus, Strapless wedding dress with feather detailing, Short feather dress, tan background via One Wed, Paper feather garland, Short ostrich dress in lane way,  Ruffly dress on catwalk via One Wed, Feathers in hair via Once Wed, Short feathery dress

Guest books with a twist

A lovely colleague of mine was chatting to me yesterday about how she wants something different to the standard guest book for her wedding, and how overwhelmed she is with it all. The little light switched on in my brain – ooh I know of some amazing ideas, and so I thought I would get some of my faves together. The best type of project!

Polaroids 

There is a great article on polaroid guest books over at Emmaline Bride

A tree or branch with note cards

Wall decor

** this is my favourite as there is a lot of scope for creativity. You could use squares of special fabric (sari or kimono fabric would be amazing and it is easy to find off cuts which would be ideal), or cut out designs in any shape you want – colourful, bold flowers, pretty pastel geometric shapes…

Silhouettes

Jenga or puzzle pieces

Same idea as the wall decor above – you could create silhouettes of your bride/groom and you and have guests write on them in pretty metallic pen & hang them on a board or wall. After, you can display them in your home or in a book or album. So elegant!

Envelopes

This is a great idea as you can have it at the back of your wedding album, keeping all of the awesome memories together. You can match the envelopes to your colour scheme, if you have one, otherwise go with your favourite colours.

Typewriter

Ask guests to type out messages on pretty coloured paper and then roll it into a scroll for display in your home. Not for perfectionists!!

Aaaah somebody stop me! There are so many cool ideas. Other options which I couldn’t find photos for are rolled up notes in a bottle (you could even incorporate this into your table centrepieces, so guests can doodle after eating (or if there is a particularly boring speech!). Then they can roll them up with pretty string or seal it with a sticker and pop it in a sweet little jar or bowl.

If you are going on honeymoon straight away, guests could fill in post cards, complete with stamps, and a friend could send them to you, so when you get back your mail box is bulging with love and beautiful memories of your wedding day. You could also have a sentimental piece of clothing signed as well – even your veil if you are planning on taking it off during the reception!

As with anything you are thinking about for your wedding, you have a lot of rein to go creatively crazy and craft to your hearts content, but there are lots of beautiful and more traditional options too.

This Martha Stewart Weddings photo gallery has lots of beautiful options which are easy and practical to pull together.

Don’t forget to think about an attractive area to set up your guest book…but that’s for another post.

Photography credits: polaroids via Emmaline Bride, branch via My DIY Wedding, wall decor via Design Sponge, silhouette via The Nester, Jenga via Oh Lovely Day (photos by Jennifer Roper), puzzle via Etsy, envelopes via Martha Stewart Weddings, typewriter via Martha Stewart Weddings

A Great Gatsby Wedding

I know, I know…Great Gatsby themed weddings are being done to death at the moment. But with the book being one of my all time faves, and the film due to be released on Christmas Day, I really just can’t help myself! I adore art deco styling and think it would be the period I would choose to land in, should a time machine make itself magically available.

The 1920s truly were a remarkable and fascinating period, and the story of Jay, Nick, Daisy and their assorted hangers on is not only captivatingly well written and clever, it is a truly intriguing story with many different layers.

The book aside though, the 1920s produced some stunning fashion and architecture, as well as some unfortunate fascist ideologies. For the sake of beauty and love of weddings, lets focus on the fashion, jewellery and stylings of the time!

Photography credits: Girl in mirror via Le Luxe Clothing, close up of chandelier, via Louisville Wedding Blog,  1920s style hanging dresses via Cotton Candy Sugar Rush

And lets not forget this modern image of 1920s inspired glory – the great Kate Moss herself! Kate wanted her wedding to be “rock n roll Great Gatsby”, with “everything kind of dreamy and soft focus”. In fact, Jamie Hince tracked Kate down a ring that was the exact replica of Zelda Fitzgerald’s (author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s troubled wife).”

Photo credits: Kate getting out of car and champagne saucers via Fashionista, Kate close up, Kate & Jamie via Vogue Australia, Flowing veil

The detailing on that dress is obscenely pretty – ah John Galliano, such beautiful work! Pity you had to go and disgrace yourself so embarrassingly last year! The designer has said that designing Kate Moss’ dress was “creative rehab” after his actual experience in rehab. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really make me like him more after his ‘incident’.  On that – did you see that he has been stripped of his Legion of Honour award? Embarrassing!

Don’t even get me started on the shoes! So perfect with her dress. Apparently Manolo Blahnik had to remake the shoes 5 times for Kate before she was happy. Ahem.

Manolo Blahniks for Kate Moss

Should you want to add a dash of roaring twenties panache to your wedding day, here are some ideas for how you could do so:

• Have small bottles of contraband style alcohol bottles as favours or on the tables

• Use champagne saucers instead of normal glasses

• Wear a bedazzled headpiece or hair comb, carry a feather fan or if you are having a wedding in the cooler months, don some cute little gloves. Guys could go for braces,  a fob watch or a jaunty Fedora.

• Go to your wedding in an old school Ford, Buick or if you really want to push the boat out, a Rolls Royce.

Photo credits: champagne saucers via Modern Luxury, kisses in the car via Tressugar, headband via Art Deco Weddings and braces via Slice of Shaks

I will leave you with some tutorials for 1920s hair and make up inspiration! Now, pass my crimson lippie…

 

In your clutches

I think swapping a bouquet for a beautiful clutch is a great, modern idea, as you get to keep it forever as a reminder of your day. A brilliant option for those allergic to pollen! I also think it would make for great bridesmaids gifts…and a cute little clutch could create the perfect little pop of colour should you want one (see here for more ideas on how to inject colour into your wedding day).

I wonder if it would make you feel a bit awkward walking down the aisle though?

Photography credits:  tabletop arrangement via Ruffled, group of embellished clutches, single beaded clutch, arms full of clutches via Style Me Pretty, minty green via Etsy, vibrant orange via Etsy