Boho Chic Tea Party

A huge thank you to all six teams who entered the Indie Wed Inspired Creations contest!  We are so excited to announce the winner and runner up – every team did an amazing job and all of the couples who attended Indie Wed, as well as all of you readers, actively voted for your favorite teams, and Kelly from Indie Wed and I are so grateful!  So, without further adieu, here we go!

Isn’t there just something magical about hot air balloons? Our Inspired Creations Contest concept today from Pemberley Events, Petal Play Design, Image Icon Photography and 11 Eureka Boutique was inspired by a photo of a fun-loving couple in a hot air balloon. Floating glass balls and papier-mâché hot air balloons floated above a vibrant and colorful tabletop filled with roses, tulips, and poppies. The color didn’t stop with the flowers! Along the natural runner sat colorful vases and glassware too. The seating chart was actually burlap map of the world with different colored hot air balloons showing people where to sit. Such an adorable theme and wonderful ideas for a colorful travel-inspired wedding!

It’s already so hard to resist photo booths, but add in antique details, vintage LPs, and fabulous accessories like these from Love, Lulu Mae? Sign me up! This team behind this Inspired Creations Contest put together the Ultimate Photo Booth. Guests use props like vintage hats, mustaches on a stick, sequined and feathered headbands to create photos, buttons, and even videos to post on friends’ facebook walls! Certainly, this is not your ordinary photo booth. It’s super interactive and has so many different options to play with. Doesn’t it look like so much fun?

Welcome to day 2 of the Indie Wed Inspired Creations Contest! The incredible team involved in today’s shoot created an amazing and beautiful idea, a “Belles and Gents Bar”. Picture this: one day, wives crash an old-school gentlemen’s club bringing in big beautiful blooms and brightly colored details to freshen up the usual decor of cigars, highball glasses, aged scotches, and decanters. SQN Events stocked the bar with his and hers drinks (homebrews and sweet tea) from Femme du Coupe personalized by Courtney Callahan Paper and treats like chocolate-covered cigars and bourbon-infused brownies from truffle truffle. Fleur never disappoints with their stunning florals and these peony, ranunculus, and cotton arrangements are absolutely some of my favorites! Love this brilliant idea and beautiful photos by the wonderful Simply Jessie Photography!

We were so thrilled to have The Sweetest Occasion and Elizabeth Anne Designs team up with Chicago’s most fabulous bridal show, Indie Wed, to hold the first-ever in person Inspired Creations Contest!  Teams of Chicago wedding vendors submitted inspiration boards for the event, and 6 talented teams were chosen to exhibit their Inspired Creations Contest concept at Indie Wed in January.  In addition to the brides’ and grooms’ on site voting, votes from the EAD and TSO blog readers will be counted, so weigh in on your favorites!

Cyd and I are so excited to unveil the winners of the Inspired Creations Contest #2: Glitter and Glam! We announced the top 10 last week and because the decision was so tough – all of the entires were amazing! – we enlisted three of our favorite editors to help us select the winners. A huge thank you to Abby from Style Me Pretty, Emily from Once Wed, and Kathryn from Snippet & Ink for being guest judges!

I hope you loved following all of the Glitter and Glam Inspired Creations Contest ideas that were posted here on EAD and over on The Sweetest Occasion!  Here is a roundup of all our amazing entries – you can click on each picture to go to the full entry and see all of the talented wedding vendors who participated in the contest! Be sure to share your love for your favorite concepts in the comments as reader input will be taken into account when determining the top 10.

There is just so much pretty in this shoot, I’m over the moon! Kelly Maron Horvath of Paper Stories, Lauren LePine of Ryan Alexander Events, Lynn Fossbender of Pollen, Stevi Savage of AveryHouse, and Shannon Spellman of Plate have dazzled me with their interpretation of glitz and glam for the Inspired Creations Contest, it’s an absolute wonderland of handmade charm.  Mercury glass accents, mother-of-pearl buttons, satin ribbons and gilded china from Plate are just a few of the ways that the team incorporated glitter and glam into their tabletop and dessert display.  And since the Inspired Creations Contest is all about being fabulous on an approachable budget, everything from the sewn paper bunting to the ribbon table runner, escort card holder, cake topper, and even the cake itself was created by Kelly, and all of the decorative accents used in the shoot were brought in from the team’s homes and studios. 

Everyone loves the magic of Hollywood, and this morning’s Inspired Creations Contest tabletop from Karin’s Florist, Lisa Boggs Photography, A Sweet Soiree, Chantel’s Bakery, and Capital Party Rentals is all about the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown.  The tabletop features mirrored chargers, a dramatic purple centerpiece, and of course, champagne!  Favors of nickel-plated Zippo lighters and chrome mirrored compacts continue the art deco theme, and a beaded curtain of round mirror tiles on fishing line serves as escort cards.  I love all of the chic and modern details and the fresh look of the white linen and chairs against the deep purple floral and napkins.

Light and summery colors are just what I needed to cheer me up on this spring day, so I love the cheerful tabletop that the team of Chelsea Renee Photography and Ashley Stanley Designs created for the Inspired Creations Contest! The color palette of lemongrass, periwinkle, and charcoal is unique and beautiful, and the ladies incorporated playful details such as candy favors that double as escort cards, checker board place mats, and DIY glittery vases (see below for easy instructions on how to make these yourself!).

Today’s lovely Inspired Creations Contest idea is perfect for the shabby chic bride!  The Nashville team of Cedarwood Weddings and Kristyn Hogan created a warm, cozy atmosphere with a glamorous side using a whitewashed color palette and burlap accents.  All of the vintage mismatched candlesticks were thrifted and painted in an antique white to create a sea of white candlelight for the romantic centerpiece and mantel.  The floral was kept simple (and budget-friendly!) with a unique baby’s breath arrangement, and the mirrors on the walls accentuate the shimmer and sparkle of the candles and add a pretty, antique feel to the setting.  And don’t even get me started on the fabulous cake.  So simple and beautiful, it’s one of my favorite cakes yet!

Who better to embody glitter and glam that Marie Antoinette?  Today’s Inspired Creations Contest idea from the Atlanta team of Lara Molettiere Events, Earthly Affair, Edward Zeltser Photography, and I Do Linens captures the sweet feminine glamour of Marie with sparkle, metallics, feathers, gold gilded roses, pearls, crystals, and many other elegant vintage touches!  And best of all, there are eco-friendly touches everywhere – all of the stationery items are created from 100% post consumer recycled paper, the favors are repurposed baby food jars with organic lavender plants, the tea tray stand is vintage china, and all shipping was offset through Carbonfund.org.

Are you ready for an Inspired Creations Contest submission that’s full of color and Parisian style?  Courtney Callahan of Courtney Callahan Paper, Natalie Walsh of Hello Darling, and Jenn Gaudreau of Jennifer Kathryn Photography are behind this vibrant shoot, inspired by a European masked ball.  The color palette of teal, green, orange, and sparkly gold and bronze is so rich and vivid, and I adore the original and exotic florals with metallic foliage, Israeli ruscus, magnolia, chick pea, kale, and peacock feathers.  Lovely stationery and DIY projects such as personalized dance cards for each guest, a ribbon garland, and hanging “bride and groom” wreaths are just a few of the beautiful touches that make this concept unique – and believe it or not, all of what you see below was created on a budget of only $337!

I hope you are loving the Inspired Creations Contest concepts so far and that they are giving you many creative and budget-friendly ideas for your wedding!  Today’s concept from the Portland, OR team of Rachael Hershmann from Lace and Likes, Debbie Dennis from Bridalhood, Marigold Vintage Rentals and Benjamin Edwards features a vintage and feminine gold and pink tablescape and beverage station incorporating champagne, ostrich plumes and lots of sparkly details!

Today’s Inspired Creations Contest idea is a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll!  The Midwest team of Paper&Velvet and Emily O Photography were inspired by the band Mumford & Sons, and vests, banjos, a chandelier, vintage silver pieces, feathers, sequins and cowboy boots were all in high form for this shoot!  The ladies didn’t go too over the top with Glitter and Glam, but embraced a softer side of sparkle, leaning heavily on peacock tones, with punches of coral and pink for glamour.  With a budget of $500, they stayed right around $200, finding a vintage gown for $20 at Goodwill, stringing patio lights and doily bunting for decor, and incorporating collected bottles and glassware for the tablescape.  I love the vintage thriftiness!

What better way to interpret Glitter and Glam than by drawing inspiration from the most glamorous of cities, Paris.  Amysing Events, Carli Morgan Photographer, Flowers and Sweets, Spoonful of Sugar and Pineapple Party Girl Rentals capture the sparkle of the Eiffel Tower at night with their Inspired Creations Contest concept. The team’s inspiration was the Pont Alexandre III at night, a beautiful ornate Beaux-Artes bridge that crosses the Seine and is lined with street lamps.  Shades of slate, gray, ivory, taupe, champagne and white, along with crystals and candlelight, create the perfect evening reception idea for a continental couple.  I adore how the dramatic black fascinator and Enzoani belt transform a beautiful but simple Mikaella gown into a unique bridal look!

The 1920s have an almost mythical feel – speakeasies, flappers, prohibition and gangsters.  So what better era would there be for a glitter and glam shoot?  Today’s Inspired Creations Contest concept from Allison Barnhill Designs, Elizabeth Ryan Photography, Intrigue Design & Decor, and Up Do’s for I Do’s brings the glamour of the past to life.  Ridgely, Maryland has a historic train caboose in town – the perfect setting and an iconic detail from the era.  Vintage china and tea cups, an antique watch and engagement ring, and a fabulous brooch bouquet are just a few of the little touches that bring the romance of the Roaring Twenties to life.

This morning’s Pancakes & Honey Breakfast shoot featured several handmade wedding projects, and the team of Suzy from Lily Red Studio, Kelly Marie from Fleur, and Jaclyn Simpson Photography have been kind enough to share their DIY secrets with us! They created several projects – click on the links below to jump to the instructions for your favorite:

I’m so excited to show off today’s Inspired Creations Contest idea – it’s retro, vintage, and fresh!  The Chicago team of Jaclyn Simpson Photography, Fleur, and Lily Red Studio created an intimate brunch wedding setting full of scrumptious pancakes and french toast kebabs, on a tabletop set with a handsewn runner, glittering crystal votive holders, and lush blooms. The honey, peach, and tangerine color palette is warm and sweet, and honey dipper favors are the perfect favor.  There are just so many little details to obsess over, so run over and see even more of the images in the gallery!

Happy Friday everyone!  I have another lovely Inspired Creations Contest shoot to show off today - modern and glamorous bridal fashion inspiration from the Portland team of Sara Gray Photography, Madeline Roosevelt, Amy Wing, and Serephine.  The model is Sara’s beautiful younger sister Emily who is getting married this summer!  The team wanted to incorporate sparkle without going wild, so they kept to a neutral color palette of gold, ivory, white, and silver.  A sassy sequin dress from Nordstrom, glitter heels, dramatic makeup and fabulous accessories make this a perfect look for the modern bride.