Finding inspiration.

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Sometimes putting together a color palette for your wedding seems to be a bit of trial and error for some brides. Oh, maybe not picking the main colors, but finding the accent colors can be a bit hard. If this is true for you then I have a great tool for you.

Colour Lovers is a tool a have been having a ton of fun with lately. The palette creator tool lets you pop in any image from the internet and pull the palette out of it.

In this example I used two different beach photos to put together the palette for a beach wedding. First, the pictures.

This one I used for the blues.Wedding set-up for a Florida Beach

This one I used for the sable colors

Beach Wedding Set up

Beach Wedding Set up

I plugged them into the “find inspiration” box on the palette creator tool and this is the palette that I created.

Color Palette fo Beach Theme Wedding

Color Palette for Beach Theme Wedding

You would be amazed at the colors you will discover if you look closely at something. Here is another one I did recently along with its inspiration.

Palette taken from a Tulip

Palette taken from a Tulip

The inspiration

Tulip Inspiration

Tulip Inspiration

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Wedding Planning Secrets

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If you are planning a wedding chances are that you started the process without having a clue.

Ya, ya there is ton of information on the web and a bazillion books to choose from, but just how good is most of that information? Not very, at least in my opinion. Besides, who has time to sift through all of it? I have been sifting through it for years and most of it makes me laugh and some of it is downright scary. I have finally found someone that tells it like it is in a simple easy to understand way: Susan Southerland.

Don’t even think about planning your wedding without watching her new video, Wedding Planning Secrets. Susan takes a no fluff, no bull, just the straight story look at what you need to know to plan an event this big. She talks honestly about budgets and setting priorities. There are great organizational tips and the tools to make them happen for you.

She explains just what an event designer is and why they may be one of the most valuable members of your team. The section on cakes and catering gives you the low down on what you need to know to contract these services and what to look for as you interview them.

This isn’t one of those books that encourages you to spend, spend spend; nor does it tell you can have a celebrity wedding on $5000 if you “just follow these 5 tips.” This is the closest thing to the real knowledge and tools you need that I have ever seen. Her tips and explanations are valid regardless of the size of your wedding or the size of your budget.

Whether you are a DIY bride having a tiny wedding at home or a diva bride getting married in a Manhattan Hotel with a top notch planner by your side, you need the information that Susan is dispensing to navigate your way through.

Now, my friends, you know me well enough by now to know that I don’t blow smoke and I know that this post is pretty high praise. Yep, I really do think this dvd is that important.

Signature code

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Flower Perfection

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As someone that has made my share of sugar flowers, I have a great respect for the art. That skill has been transformed into a more permanent form: clay. Using ClayCraft Deco Clay, Diane Phillips of DK Designs has brought the beauty of hand sculpted flowers off the cake and into your bouquet, your centerpieces and into your home.


Clay Flower centerpiece of roses and stephanotis
clay roses, stephanoitis and peony buds

Fresh flowers are beautiful, but these stunners will last forever if you take care of them. Even if you don’t want to go the clay route for your actual wedding, why not have a piece made using the clay version of your flowers to treasure forever.

You can see more of Diane’s work at her Etsy store on her blog. To special order you can contact the artist directly through her website.

Hat tip to Wedded Bits for hooking me up with these.

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Richly Colored Table Top Ideas

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Another Sunday, another Bridal Show, so I found more beautiful table tops to share.Blue and purple table top

This beautiful peacock inspired table is from Something Blue Weddings & Events. Rachel Hawkins was telling me that her designer has been bugging her to do something with peacock feathers, so Rachel finally said, “Oh have fun.” Wow did she ever knock it out of the park. The lovely rich colors make me think of a of a deep warm feast on a cold winters night. Just beautiful.

Moroccan themed table top

Morocco anyone? Chef’s Market designed this amazing table for this season of bridal shows and I swear I love it more every time I see it. Now you wouldn’t do it for every table but wouldn’t it create a stunning look if you enlarged it and used it for the head table? What a focal point that would make!

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This Guest Book Alternative is Just a Little Dirty!

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You know I love alternative guest books, right? Well check out this one!Casual Guest book alternative

Created by Mèlangerie in New York, these adorable little cards shaped like pieces of clothing were hung on a clothes line with tiny clothes pins. A detergent bottle was inscribed with a note encouraging guests to tell funny stories about the couple. Mèlangerie later compiled the couples ‘dirty laundry’ into a book as a keepsake for the couple.

If you are having a casual outdoor wedding, I think this would be too fun. Not to mention you could probably DIY it.

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Table Top Ideas

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One of the things I enjoy most about bridal shows are the tabletop displays. Usually you can count on the rental companies to pull out all the stops and present some great ideas to inspire you. This Sunday was no exception. Everyone seemed to have had fun, even the caterers and event venues.Soft green and brown tabletopSilver Table with crystal and pink accents from Classic Party RentalFall table with wrought iron chandelierOne Eleven

I also took beau coup pictures of pretty bouquets, but I think I will save those for Flower Friday.

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Flower Friday Advice

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I have heard the same thing this week from 2 planners and a florist: When they asked a bride about the floral and décor budget for their wedding the brides said, ”Well I don’t really have a budget.”

I don\'t want to hear this.

Grrrrr. Let me tell you what wedding professionals hear when you say that, “I don’t want to tell you because you will spend it all.”

Here is what they think. ”OK babe, is it $500Rose bowl cwnterpiece with calla and gerber daisy

or $15,000.

Wedding decor by Ilex in Nashville

Give me some direction so I know where to go”

When you approach a planner or florist or a designer of any kind, they can work with in your budget if they know what it is. Even if you don’t have a firm budget you have to have some idea of a ballpark dollar figure. Be honest with your vendors, lowball a little if you feel you must, but, good grief, give them some idea.

It doesn’t matter if your budget is tiny; a small budget stretches the talents of a true creative; it makes us think harder. Don’t get me wrong, everybody prefers working with a lavish budget but it isn’t always the case. If you are honest from the beginning you will be much better served by the professionals you choose. Believe it or not; we really do want to make your day special.

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The Truth behind Floral Décor: Arches

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I had the privilege of assisting on a truly beautiful wedding this past weekend. You would have loved it: outdoors at a wonderful botanical garden on the grounds of the Cheek mansion. The florals were bright, happy, perfect for a summer day and quite extensive. There in lies the bugaboo.

Saturday in lovely NashVegas was 92 degrees and possessed of all the humidity for which the south is famous. Now the wedding didn’t start until 7:00 and by that time the temperature had improved a bit and the breezes had picked up, but at 3:30 it was a bear.

The arch you see above had to be done completely on site. It began with a ladder, a green garland and 5 buckets of flowers. Two of us spent 2 hours in the afternoon sun climbing and cutting and placing and misting to achieve the results you see. I am not telling you this to complain, I am telling you this so that you are aware of what goes on behind the scenes of your big day. When we stood back and looked at our work we were as in love with it as I hope you are. It was most definitely worth the effort; but wow, was it ever hot!

The floral décor was by Branching Out Event Florists. The wedding was held at Cheekwood. If you would like to see larger images of the images above, visit my Flickr Photostream.

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