I Love a Little Purple in the Summertime

Dramatic jewel tones meet rustic barn setting in this inspiration shoot from One Summer Day, set at Silverbrook Farm in Virginia’s Horse Country. It’s simply gorgeous! The fall feel of the shoot is thanks to moody portraits, set amidst vintage decor from Stylish Patina Vintage Rentals. Coordinated by Ashlee Virginia Events, details like brass candlesticks and gold china sit among deep red and purple florals by Petals & Hedges. We cannot take our eyes off the black and gold stationery and that amazing and unusual cake from Cakebee! And how gorgeous is the gown from Soliloquy Bridal Couture? See all of the lovely images right here!

Absolutely fabulous is the name of the game in today’s inspiration shoot from E.M. Anderson Photography! We promise you’ll find tons of great ideas from this winter-inspired scheme set at The Athletic Club of Columbus in Ohio. Gorgeous jewel-tone arrangements from Flowers on Orchard Lane pop against the to-die-for gorgeous Anna Maier | Ulla-Maija Couture gown. Emilie Duncan Event Planning pulled together this breathtaking affair, calling on Ink and Ivory for frame-worthy invitations. Black and ivory linens from Event Source add a touch of drama to the fondant cake by Bella Luna Cakes & Confections. What more could you want? Answer: Nothing!

Happy Friday everyone! Today’s Friday Flowers are from a sunny shoot styled by one of our favorites, Holly Chapple!  Anne Robert did an amazing job photographing vintage details against the vibrant flowers plucked from Holly’s garden. The yellow tablecloth—a gorgeous backdrop for the bold blooms—is actually a bedspread Holly picked up at a tag sale a couple years ago. Cordial glasses from Belgium, white enamel vases and plates, and a sprinkling of sterling silver lend a collected-over-the-years feel to this charming backyard party setting, and we are completely in love!

The styled shoot we have for you today was inspired by the feeling of being completely and utterly lovestruck. You know – that passionate, heart-stopping, fallen-hard kind of love. Using a palette of rich fuchsia, magenta, and vibrant pinks, Julie Liles Floral & Event Design dotted roses, tulips and calla lilies with crystals and arranged them among sparkling candles and lanterns. How fabulous are the custom headpieces by Petals by KC and the glittered favor boxes? Then there’s the stunning ombre cake by Frosted Bliss Cakes and the adorable sparkling cake pops by Raleigh Cake Pops too! So many fabulous details in these incredible photos by Live View Studios. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

If 2011 was the year of rustic chic, 2012 is going to be the year of elegance and glam. This stunning shoot from Katelyn James Photography is the epitome of classic, baroque beauty and I am completely head over heels in love with the gorgeous details… the gilded pear place cards, the fabulous centerpieces from Janie Medley Flora Design that incorporate pomegranates and cabbage, the ornate framed table number and delicate, colorful china – it’s all perfection!

Inspired by a peacock feather, these jewel-toned tabletops designed by Beth of SQN Events are the perfect combination of elegant and modern.  Whether you’re planning a wedding or a party, jewel tones set the stage for a fabulous urban holiday soiree, and the gorgeous purple, red, and green palette is brought to life by the modern blooms from Dilly Lily.  Ribbon-wrapped menus and favor boxes with touches of swirling calligraphy add an elegant touch to the wedding tabletop while “naughty” and “nice” gift boxes add cheeky punch to the holiday tablescape.  The scrumptious sweets table and 4-tier truffle cake from Truffle Truffle is a fun and unique alternative to a traditional cake.  I’m in love with all of the colorful images from Maypole Studios!

Today is such a fun day for me because I get to show off my very first designed shoot! I was so thrilled when Sara Gray asked me to create a shoot for her latest MarryThis! wedding guide, and immediately enlisted the amazing Kelly Marie Uss of Fleur to join in to help me style a romantic summer wedding shoot, full of vibrant colors and elegant and fluffy blooms. I love trends, but wanted to take a few of the design trends that are popular today, such as vintage china and lace, and use them in a way that was classic and timeless, a wedding that would stay fresh and inspiring for years to come. We chose the absolutely fabulous Aeree Loft at Room 1520 as our venue, its clean white walls and amazing light were the perfect backdrop!

I just adore seeing the different ways that the Inspired Creations Contest teams interpret glitz and glam!  Today’s Portland, Oregon team of Fleur:ology, Diana Marie Photography, Paper Bloom and Le Cookie Monkey chose a color palette of deep pinks, purples, and warm metallics and created a positively amazing dessert display and tablescape spending only $90 on materials.  Yes, you read that right!  There are a lot of DIY elements in the design, which makes this wedding concept easy for anyone to obtain with a little bit of creativity, personalization and lots of spray paint!

With the world abuzz over the upcoming Royal Wedding, glamour and old world elegance are all the rage.  With this in mind, the amazing designers at Nashville’s Cedarwood and photographer Krystal Mann created an inspirational wedding scene that combines luxurious, vintage elements with today’s modern woodland style.  The Baroque inspired shoot features vintage china and gilded mirrors, and eclectic objects d’art collected from family heirlooms and flea markets.  Altered art favors, a mirror guest book, and an opulent gilded cake are a stunning contrast to the rustic, wintry landscape.  And the flowers – oh the flowers!  They are positively gorgeous, combining grapes, kiwi and papaya with assorted blooms in rich purple and green tones.  I’m completely inspired by this elegant shoot and its beautiful mix of trends old and new, and I hope you are too!

My lovely friend Jeannine from FAVOR Events has shared two beautiful farm wedding tables, both full of  romantic and rustic details!  The privately-owned farm in Georgia is one part rustic, two parts gorgeous and the tablescapes show the personality of the venue in completely different ways.  All of the lovely images are courtesy of Ben Vigil Photographers.

You might remember the enormously talented Sara Gray from her awesome Inspired Creations Contest winning concept, Dandelion Wine.  I’m excited to welcome her back to EAD today with another beautiful styled shoot, one that’s romantic and preppy all at the same time.

So excited to share a gorgeous Inspired Creations Contest concept from Kristy Rice of Momental Designs.  Kristy created a gorgeous tabletop that’s rustic and kind of quirky all at the same time.  Love!

Even though my wedding was more than a year ago, I still hear from brides every now and then who were inspired by one element or another from my wedding – and it absolutely warms my heart to know that my wedding played even a teensy tiny part in helping to inspire a fellow bride.

I thought I would end my week guest blogging with colorful details from a dramatic and elegant wedding sent over by the lovely, Lyndsey Hamilton. Lyndsey Hamilton runs the incredible event planning firm, Lyndsey Hamilton Events, in New York and also happens to be a member of the new EAD Library too! Enjoy….

Bellissima! Today’s Italian garden party wedding shoot, designed by Brittany Lott of Elle Affairs, has us transported to Tuscany! The inspiration behind the shoot was the classic Tuscan alfresco dining experience, which was brought to life with the setting of Birmingham, Alabama’s La Tavalo. The beautiful outdoor table setting featured loose greenery, rosemary accents and olive oil favors, and we just adore the idea of an olive oil tasting bar—what could be more authentically Italian? The mix of modern and traditional elements was brought to life in the invitation suite from Jessica Stalkner at Empress Stationery and chic wrap bridesmaids dresses from Molly Green. And we are in love with the classic elegance of the gowns from Heidi Elnora. There’s so many details—and stunning images from Spindle Photography—to swoon over right here in the gallery!

We love this fresh take on nautical style in weddings! Pale pink and gray stationery from Suite Paperie is still nautical-chic, but in a softer presentation than crisp navy and red. Dulce Dreams Events directed a stunning shoot filled with soft blooms from L’Oasis that fit right into the soothing color palette. With images from Alexis June Weddings and Cyrience Photography on a gorgeous old-school sailboat at Maritime Parc, we just can’t get enough of this chic and sophisticated setting! Staying true to the theme, Madison Lee’s Cakes used real seashells for the molds on the cake, and brown sugar created the illusion of sand. The model’s intricate GEMY by Gemy Maalouf gown is stunning! We’re in love with this shoot from top to bottom—see every last detail in the gallery!

There is so much gorgeous inspiration in this collaboration shoot between Kristyn Hogan and the talented team at Historic Cedarwood, and we love it all! Amber Housley created the lovely floral stationery and helped direct the styling of this bridal party tea in the garden. Eclectic linens from Urban Outfitters ground the tables for a collection vintage dishware and vases on top, filled with bold blooms and some of the prettiest teacups we’ve ever seen! The bridal party sipped pink Champagne from Le Grande Courtage while playing dress-up in amazing gowns from The Bride Room and accessories by Beatrice Couture Designs styled by Opulent Couturier. And aren’t you just in love with the playful side pony styled by Jessica Jones? Run, don’t walk, to the gallery to soak up all of the inspiration!

We are just gasping for breath over this gorgeous bohemian shoot from Tamiz Photography! All of the vintage decor mixed with romantic pink blooms and lacy vintage dresses are stunning! The romantic island style of long, loose waves crowned with floral hair wreaths gives away this Maui location, yet there’s something ethereal and placeless about it as well. And have you ever seen a tree swing so pretty? We want to teleport ourselves into this shoot right now, but instead we’ll settle for staring at it all afternoon in the gallery!

Turquoise and lavender—the color and the herb—are beautifully bold in this sophisticated inspiration shoot from First Comes Love Wedding Photography. Styled at Vellum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the table pops with the tropical hues, grounded by dark wood tables and brick walls. Bright stationery accented with aqua and plum stripes from Dooby Design pairs perfectly with the palette. An exotic printed table runner holds a garland centerpiece of purples and greens by PassionFlower, who also created the fabulous coordinating hairpieces for the brides. Elegant gowns from The Gown Shop Ann Arbor are stunning; their classic silhouettes are the perfect backdrops for the unique bouquets and hair flowers. We adore the uber-chic colorful elements of this fun shoot!

This casual backyard shoot in Phoenix, Arizona, could be set anywhere in the Deep South, with its gorgeous magnolia details and Southern vintage charm. Working with Angela Saban Design, Diana Elizabeth photographed everything perfectly, from the Enzoani and Destinations by Mon Cheri gowns to the pale yellow, peach, green, and white florals by The Garage by Ivy. We adore the magnolia detail on the cloth napkins, a DIY project from the fabulous SMP Living. Model Brenna Heater accessorized her breathtaking gown with a pearl belt from Uptown Bridal & Boutique and fabulous fuchsia heels. Angel Cakes Bakery created mini cakes with sweet sugar flowers and a smooth two-tier cake topped with a magnolia flower to carry out the outdoor theme. See all of the charming images in the gallery!