I so rarely have time to do something purely fun and creative just for myself. When I saw {Tastefully Entertaining}'s post about their 25th Anniversary Celebration, I had to send them something! Here is the result... Happy anniversary, TE! Thanks for the inspiration! Be sure to check out {Tastefully Entertaining} this week to see the rest of the entries.

Sources: Crocheted Votives, Doily Flower Arrangements, White Cutout Bag Table Décor and Blue Mug, Blue Cakes, Blue Favors, Blue Bouquet, Bridesmaids Dress Sketch, Wedding Dress: Pronovias via Brides , Wedding Gown Detail: Carolina Herrera via Brides , Blue and White Bouquet, White Paper Flower Table Treatment

{Southern Weddings} is having two fabulous contests this week!

Enter the {Ideal Favors Contest} and win a fantastic package of personalized goodies from {Ideal Favors}... submit your entry by Thursday at midnight. 

And be sure to enter the {ABCD Designs P A P E R C U P P Contest} to win a custom monogram and stamp set from the fabulous ABCD Designs P A P E R C U P P. 

Any other contests we should know about?  Leave a comment here and we will be sure to post about them.

Good luck!

Lyndsey Hamilton, one of our favorite planners in the NY and LA markets, has started a phenomenal new blog.  We love looking to Lyndsey and her team for inspiration for our brides.  Just a small testiment to their ability to think of {Everything}...the photo below {from Chris Humphreys} shows ducks that were brought in specificially to swim in a back yard pond at one of their weddings.  Find out more about what Lyndsey and her team are dreaming up at {LHEverything}.

Great to have you in the blog world Lyndsey!

We are so excited about the new and fresh ideas going on in the wedding blog world.  One of our favorite sites for daily inspiration, {Elizabeth Anne Designs}, has launched their new Library this week.  We love this new feature and are so excited for Ami and Rebekah. 

 

A few words from the wedding mavens...“We are incredibly excited to announce our new project, The EAD Library.  After months of development and research, we are launching a new resource for brides on Tuesday July 22nd.  The Library is filled with hundreds of useful links, from photographers to shops to stationers.  Our goal is a simple, comprehensive list of vendors.  The Library will help every bride, no matter her location, find the vendors and inspiration she needs for a beautiful event.”

 

Congratulations ladies!  We hope everyone has a chance to visit your site and use this amazing tool.

For fans of "Who's Wedding is it Anyways?" you will remember their pioneer wedding designer, Jung Lee.  Jung is an inspirational woman who entered the wedding planning world after going through the experience of planning her own wedding and the fantastic author of Fete: The Wedding Experience.  This book was developed as a tool for brides who want the experience of having such an amazing wedding planner as Jung, but may not be able to fit her services into their budget. 

As Jung says, "Even if you know next to nothing about planning a wedding, you want yours to be simply spectacular.  Well, you're holding the right book.  I live, breathe, eat, and sleep weddings, and I am here to show you how to create and produce an amazing wedding of your own." 

We adore Jung and her work.  This book is a great find for any bride who truly wants a wedding like none other and a great source of inspiration for wedding professionals.

Often times, I'm asked about what inspires me when designing a wedding.  Many times it is the bride and her ideas, but more often than not, I find myself going to back to my favorite pile of wedding books for ideas that I can twist, borrow or interpret for my client.  Being that I love these books so much, I thought I'd use a series of posts over the next few weeks to share a few of my favorites with our loyal blog readers.  One of my absolute favorites is Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings.  In this book, each wedding is outlined start to finish complete with a floor plan, map of the area and flow chart of the day.  No stone is left unturned and it is a true testatment to Mr. Cowie's professionalism and organization.  (Speaking of, did any of you see the tour of his NYC home on Oprah?  Oh my!)  So my friends, if you're looking for a book to inspire and teach, this is a great investment.

On a side note...his newest book, Colin Cowie Chic: A Guide to Life as it Should Be would make a great birthday present!

Entirely self-taught, Joycelyn Shu, the former fashion and beauty editor of Singapore Women’s Weekly turned writer and stylist, counts desserts as her biggest passion (although shoes come a close second). When not behind the scenes art directing fashion shoots for Revolution, a luxury glossy, she can be found in the kitchen baking for therapy, on the couch obsessing over recipes from her 500-plus-and-counting cookbook collection, or next to her laptop rambling about her culinary trials and tribulations on {Kuidaore}, her food blog. This is my favorite foodie blog to date! Oh, those macaroons! Please serve me these at your wedding.... Enjoy~

 

Here is a board we put together for one of our favorite blogs, {Elizabeth Anne Designs}.

Here’s a little more from Danielle on each photo {clockwise from the top left} and how it fits into the design scheme…

• These cucumber martinis and basil mojitos from Brides provide not only the perfect colors, but are also refreshing and light on the palette.
• Crisp white monogram napkins are a must for this event.  Find them at Pottery Barn.
• Martha Stewart always has the best inspiration for cakes.  The lace look of this confection is perfection.
• This do-it-yourself concept from Brides provides a touch of frills.
• Ice cream is a favorite treat of this couple so we’ll serve sundaes with the cake.
• This ceremony space {found in Grace Ormonde} captures a sophisticated look with white upholstered benches and a mirrored archway.
• The pickle favors featured in Brides were an unexpected treat for guests to take home.
• Guests look to the invitation to set the tone for the evening.  These are Kate Spade for Crane & Co. and they fit the bill perfectly.
• White tulips provide the perfect combination of clean sophistication and Southern charm.
• A white 1949 Jaguar would be the perfect escape at the end of the night.
• This beautiful Amsale gown is a great example of this collection of thoughts.
• Tara Guerard designed this wedding where the groom’s grandmother provided these sweet treats for the dessert bar.
  

 

A million thanks for all the blog love!  A few of the people who linked to us this week:  The Wedding Chicks, Alltop, Blue Orchid Blog, Modern Vintage Designs, Arden Photography, Weddings by Dani, Tie the Knot, Lucky Designs, Tying the Knot, Bells and Bubbles, Pink Cake Box, Pearl's Events,  Life Love Lipstick, Teardrop Weddings, Cupcakes and Cutlery, Nearly Knotted, Kate's Wedding

We are loving these well-priced letterpress invites from {Paper-Source}.

For an afternoon tea bridal shower at the {Four Seasons},  {Sylvia Weinstock}  created this fabulous confection with candy birds and butterflies. Oh my, what a dream!  {Photography by the phenomenal Marie Labbancz}

I don't know how many times I have helped a bride who is agonizing over what tie her groom should sport on their big day.  With the current trend of tan suits (especially for the spring season), guys are able to wear ties with much more varied style.  Take a look at these fabulous finds courtesy of {Vineyard Vines}.  All styles below are reasonably priced at $85 and definitely something your guys can wear again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a little something for the ladies too...these totes would make great bridesmaid gifts.

Leah discovered the oh-so-inspiring {Paper Cup Designs} website today and I had to post these Bon Bon Buttons.  STEAL THIS IDEA: Someone needs to add these to thier wedding pronto!  Add them to table treatments, on top of napkins, attached to seating cards/escort cards, as a favor, in welcome baskets, with your save-the-dates...there are endless options here!  Brides, if you steal this, send us some pics!  More to come on Paper Cup Designs later this week on the {Southern Wedding Style Magazine Daily BLOG}.  Enjoy your Sunday~  Lara

I have a new found love for jewelry and just had to share my new favorite, {Dogeared Jewels & Gifts}. These are perfect gifts for bridesmaids, brides, mothers or friends. Dogeared loves to spread positive energy into the world with personal and positive charms, all with a hip, handmade look and feel. The Make a Wish Necklaces, Reminders, Karma and Word Jewels have touched the hearts and graced the necks of celebrities, stylists, film and TV stars everywhere...and me:-). What better charm to wear on your wedding day than Pearls of Love for yourself and Pears of Friendship for your maids.

The Make A Wish necklace or bracelet is the "it" gift right now. This necklace is ready to bring love and a little magic into the life of the wearer. The concept is to simply make a wish when you put on the necklace, and when the necklace wears off (the strands are woven raw silk), your wish is ready to come true. They all come packaged on a card displaying what type of charm or jewel it is and what it means.

 

My personal favorites that I own are the Pearls of Love and the Make a Wish, Wishbone bracelet. Enjoy! ~ Leah

This is so cute (and painfully true for most of us)!  Celebrate your love--and sense of humor--with this hilarious cake topper from our fav favor and decor source {InkyPink.com}.  Click HERE for more info on the "cell fantatic" cake topper.

OK, we RARELY post things like this, but here is a Bliss secret... www.inkypink.com! This site has everything fabulous for your big day! Here are some of our favorite finds from InkyPink...

Monday, December 17, 2007

Shop Bliss!

Danielle and I have come up with some pretty funny sayings over the years. After so many weddings, you develop a sense of humor and fun about the stresses a wedding can bring! CLICK HERE for the Official Bliss Bride Store. THREE DAYS LEFT to order for delivery by Christmas! Have an idea for a funny t-shirt? Post it here and we might add your design to the Bliss Line! Here are a few of our favorites....