Dahlia Bouquet

I was having friends over for dinner on Saturday night so I was looking for some flowers for the table. I headed to my family's summer home where my aunts have pretty spectacular gardens, and as it is the season for dahlias and so many were in bloom, I naturally headed to that section of the garden with the clippers. There were about four different massive dahlia plants, but I stuck to the pinks (surprise, surprise). As I gathered them and then wandered about the house chatting and putting clippers away, etc. I was holding the dahlias as a bouquet and thought to myself, why on earth don't more brides use dahlias for their bouquets. They are so stunning and the color variations among one flower add so much dimension to a bouquet. I googled dahlia bouquets and it seems that florists are using them sparingly mixed in with other flowers, but it's almost not even worth it in my opinion because their visual impact is most striking when they are all gathered together. I placed this bunch in a square glass vase and they were quite lovely, but any of you brides who are getting married in August/September should seriously consider these beauties. Plus, they are available in so many colors! Lucky for me, there are still loads of buds on the ones I picked from so I think I'll treat myself to a new bouquet each week while I can.

Newport Wedding

Today is my six year wedding anniversary so I thought it seemed appropriate to share a few pictures of our wedding. I LOVE weddings and so I certainly had a good time planning mine. While some people stress and stress over it, I would do it every year if I could just for the party planning aspect of it. Please pardon the picture quality as they are photos of photos. Six years ago I thought having all digital images made no sense and that I would somehow lose the quality of the images by not using film. Clearly, I'm a real forward thinker.

My husband works in the sailing industry and we live in Newport so we knew we wanted our wedding to be on or near the water. We decided to have our ceremony on an 80+ foot race boat called Carrera. My bridesmaids, parents and I boarded the boat at the Newport Shipyard and crossed Newport Harbor to Alofsin Pier at Fort Adams State Park where the groom, groomsmen and minister boarded the boat and the guests lined the pier.

As I've mentioned in previous posts I was determined to have peonies at my wedding, but because the florist wouldn't guarantee that they would look good in August we went with wide open garden roses for my bouquet (top) and centerpieces and ranunculus for the bridesmaids.

After the ceremony, the bridal party went for a cruise around the harbor to take photos. I loved that we were able to have an elegant wedding, but still be barefoot through the ceremony.

My husband and the groomsmen wore starfish boutonnieres that I made. I had been to so many weddings where the boutonnieres barely made it through the ceremony and looked limp by photo time so I knew I wanted something that we wouldn't have to worry about.

The cake was by Scrumptions and had white chocolate starfish and swiss dots. I brought them the ribbon to top the cake with to be sure it matched the other ribbon used throughout the reception.

The reception was at Eisenhower House, overlooking Narragansett Bay. I had custom fuschia silk overlays made for the tables and hung tiered paper lanterns from Pier 1 in various shades of pink and white throughout the party tent. The tent poles were wrapped in white fabric and tied with matching grosgrain ribbon and a large starfish.

The starfish topped menus were tucked into each napkin and wrapped in pink and green stripe grosgrain ribbon. Our programs were very similar, but were on popsicle sticks in case people needed to fan themselves (except that we ended up with an atypically cool day for August). My friends get a major shout out for helping me put together the 200 menus and programs the week of the wedding.

Perhaps one of the most important things that happened that day (other than marrying my fabulous hubby, of course) was that the cake company had asked Southern New England Weddings magazine to come photograph the cake. When they got there, they ended up photographing all of the decor and giving it editorial coverage on three pages in their 2005 edition.

While I've long been obsessed with home decor and party planning, getting editorial coverage for an event that I planned every last detail of myself was pretty exciting and gave me the confidence to believe that I could actually do this for a living, and inspired me to do the RISD Interior Design Certificate Program.

So hear we are six years, two kids and one house later. I still love looking at our pictures. It was such a fun day. I've been to a lot of weddings, and I have to say that the ones that are the most memorable are the ones where people really put their own personal spin on them. Believe me, my mother was having a heart attack for the eight months of planning a ceremony on a boat, but in the end, that's what people always still talk about.

Easy Party Decorations

On Saturday night I had the pleasure of attending the Buttonwoods Park Zoo fundraiser, Wild Night at the Zoo. I was going to the event to support this fabulous little zoo in New Bedford, MA that I frequent with my children and also support my very good friend who is the executive director there. I had no intention of doing a story about it, but there were some very simple, fail proof party decor ideas that I thought you would all enjoy. That being said, I apologize that the pictures aren't as clear as I'd like, but I only I had my iphone on me since I wasn't planning on taking pictures. The first thing that struck us (me and my highly critical counterparts) was the amazing plants! Famed horticulturalist David Haskell provided brilliant jasmine, butterfly bush, agapanthus and more planted in oversized pots at the entry and along the paths and tent.
This burlap fabric hung with metal clips and wrapped with raffia is so simple it seems like an obvious thing to do, but we often over complicate things and miss the beauty in simplicity. While it was used here for a safari theme, it could easily work for a beach or harvest theme too. And you could add a little more interest by using shells or fruits tied in with the raffia.
It seems that flag banners are all the rage these days, but if you are like me, you hate buying something that you'll only use once or twice a year, and while I've even contemplated sewing one for my daughter's room for a more permant installation, I just can't seem to bring myself to do it because it seems like such a big task. I thought this DIY flag banner was brilliant. Simply fold napkins over a string and use clothespins to secure them. Wouldn't this be adorable with red, white, and blue patterned napkins for your July 4th cookout?

Besides these great ideas, the Wild Night at the Zoo was a great event. I don't know what other event out there has two asian elephants as their official greeters when you walk in the door. Getting to pet them and get a picture with them was worth the price of admission alone. It was a fabulous night to enjoy great food, drink and music surrounded by the wonderful creatures who call it home. If you love in the area, mark your calendars for next year!

Sneak Peak: Firetruck Birthday Party

This Sunday is my son's 4th birthday party, and much to my dismay he has requested a repeat of all things fireman, firetruck, firehouse like we did last year. Last year I set the bar a little too high by building a 3D firetruck cake and so it looks like I am going to be tackling the same project again this year. Of course, I actually believe that my cake decorating skills have gotten a lot better (because of the one other cake I baked for my daughter's first birthday party) so I am now expecting this year's firetruck cake to be lightyears better than last year's cake. Oh, and he wants cupcakes too, of course. I've also starting following some blogs of event planners and dessert tables seem to be the big thing right now so since we've just invited everyone for cake and ice cream, I thought I'd give one a try. So far, I've created the little firetruck logo (above) that I'm going to use on the displays and favors. Yup, that's as far as I've gotten and the party is a mere 3 days away....so I thought I'd look for a little more inspiration.

There is little doubt that the queen or master or designer extraordinaire of dessert tables is Manhattan based designer Amy Atlas of Amy Atlas Events. I love the bright colors of her candy shop themed table above.

Another event planner who is making waves in the dessert table arena is Kim Stoegbauer of TomKat Studio who also happens to have an Etsy shop where she sells downloadable invitations, cupcake picks, and more. Above is her Fairy Garden Theme table.

And lastly, but certainly not least, is the adorable Pink Tricycle theme party by Stephanie Frazier Grimm of Couture Parties. Stephanie also gives you a head start by selling Get the Party Started Packs in 14 different themes which include plates, cups, silverware, favor bags and cupcake picks in whatever theme you choose.

Since I always insist on making things as difficult as possible for myself, I will be starting from scratch in coming up with a way to make my dessert table presentable. There is a pretty good chance that it won't hold a candle to any of these ones, but my son will still think it's pretty cool. Check back Monday to see how it comes out.

Wedding Planning: Fall-ing Fast

I was so thrilled earlier this week when I received a call from one of my closest friends telling me that she had gotten engaged over the weekend. Yay! I am so excited for her, but I have to admit that every time I hear someone is getting married, I want to jump right in on the wedding planning (whether I'm supposed to be involved in it or not). I am pretty sure my obsession with it is a diagnosible disorder, but there is something about planning a wedding that is so different than just planning any party-perhaps it's the fact that people have a tendancy to just go all out for weddings. If I had the money to throw a full on sit down dinner party for 200 people once a year, chances are I would do it, but since I don't, I feel the need to live vicariously through anyone I know that happens to be doing it. And since my friend got engaged on Sunday and had the date and location booked on Tuesday (which is only mildly quicker than me getting engaged on a Friday and my mother having me in New York City at the Saks wedding dress sample sale the following Monday) I decided that it wouldn't be too soon to throw together my thoughts on a direction she could go in (should she so happen to want my input-not sure she does, but just in case) based on the few things she told me she had already decided or was thinking about 24 hours ago.

The wedding is going to be in late October of this year at Harvest on Hudson in Westchester county overlooking the Hudson River which should be absolutely gorgeous, and it will be a mid-day event. Based on the time of year, the one thing about the decor she has decided is that she wants to use etched pumpkins as the the table numbers. Based on that, I started thinking "rustic" along the lines of moss and twigs, partially because of their natural elements and partially because moss green and brown perfectly complement a beautiful shade of orange so that the pumpkins can be tied in very easily. Pumpkins and gourds are a perfect accent for events for this time of year, but there is always a fine line when you choose a wedding theme to take it just so far that it doesn't become kitschy. The pumpkin table numbers, some pumpkins scattered about the cocktail tables and monogrammed pumpkins (above) with the new monogram of the couple would be fabulous at the entry or on a stairway or mantle, and would be just enough to make the statement. Moss Covered Monogram Letters (top-and I actually found an image with my friend and her fiance's inititals!) by Spotted Leopard hung with gorgeous orange ribbon on the entry doors would set the tone.

Since I was thinking rustic and I keep coming across these bird's nest wedding accessories on Etsy, I thought this would be a perfect event to tie them into. Besides the natural aspect of the bird's nests, I think the idea of focusing on the love birds is also sweet. This small nest with chocolates (colors can be custom selected-I think green chocolates and orange ribbon) by nholt is the perfect table assignment/favor combination. The tag can read the guest's name and table number.

The nests could be on a table at the entry under two topiaries (maybe even moss covered ones) with a banner with the couple's name and date as seen on Martha Stewart.

This ringbearer's nest by Gardenside Studio is just too cute and is so much better than a satin pillow!

And just to make it all tie together, the groom and groomsmen could even wear bird's nest boutonnieres (but maybe sans feather) by Pomp and Plumage. I strongly encourage anyone planning a wedding to steer away from flower boutonnieres. I have yet to see one that has lasted long enough to still look decent in pictures so go with something that isn't so prone to wilting if possible.

My friend is thinking about wearing the wedding gown that both her mother and grandmother wore, but having it re-made to be a bit more modern. I think the unbelievable Kiss corsage by emersonmade could be a fabulous addition and be that connecting piece between vintage and modern and would bring in just a touch of orange. They have smaller pins and boutonnieres too. The 3 Flower Dahlia Pin (below) would be adorable on a simple white dress for the flower girls and could tie them nicely to the bride with her corsage.

Of course there are lots of adorable flower girl dresses out there and this moss green and champagne one by Pegeen would work very well if she wants something a little more formal for them.

Or this super simple white flower girl dress with a chocolate brown ribbon by Us Angels at Nordstrom would be lovely and perfectly appropriate for a mid-day event.

As for flowers, the options are virtually endless, but for the centerpieces there should be at least a touch of orange to pick up the pumpkins on the table. I think a moss covered container of some sort or something with twigs or vines worked into it would be wonderful.

The combination of oranges, pinks, and greens and the different textures of this bouquet from Martha Stewart is amazing.

Sayles Livingston creates a lighter palette of the same colors here with a larger focus on green which is a bit more refined looking.

Or a deeper shade of roses mixed with berries, also by Sayles Livingston, makes for a truly elegant bouquet or centerpiece.

Last, but certainly not least, the cake! If you took the fondant leaves off of this moss colored ribbon cake by Konditor Meister (best bakery ever!) and replaced them with coordinating fresh flowers or even a moss monogram cake topper, it would be brilliant.

So now that I got that all sorted out for her, all she has to do is pick out the wedding band and the menu.

My friend has been so kind as to say that we will be able to follow her wedding planning on Chateau & Bungalow so as the months go on we'll see if she likes any of my suggestions. She is an incredibly talented and creative person in her own right so she certainly doesn't need my help, but I'll still have fun with it...at least in my own mind. Maybe I should start working on bridal shower ideas.

Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour

Seaweed

Have you always wanted to get a peek inside Newport's private mansions? Now is your chance! Next Sunday, April 25th you can tour 5 of Newport's most amazing private homes as part of the Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour put together by St. Michael's Country Day School. The houses included this year are Seaweed, Broadlawns, Sulthorne, Pelham House and Beacon Rock. This would be a fabulous girls day and a great day trip if you are in the RI, CT, or MA area.

Broadlawns

Sulthorne

Pelham House

Beacon Rock

Tickets are $35 if purchased by April 22nd or $40 thereafter and can be purchased online. Please note that there are some restrictions on the tour so be sure to read through everything on the web site if you plan on attending. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and boxed lunches are available to order at the time of ticket purchase. Hope to see you there!