Scoot on over to Grey Likes for the original post [and lots more inspiration, just- you know- on a daily basis], and leave Rachel some love while you’re at it! Quick side note: she pulled this whole shebang together in a mere 2.5 weeks! Now THAT is some inspired design!

So much thanks headed over to Ashleigh Taylor for her gorgeous images and her push to submit these! We’re always hoping that our designs inspire other vendors to work their best as well- and this event was the culmination of truly inspired art between peers and friends. So thrilled!

Rachel- you truly knocked this one OUT of the park!!

xoxo,

But we got four. We got four pages- and we didn’t ask for it, and they didn’t tell us about it, and we’re 100% thrilled by it. It’s a good surprise! It’s the BEST surprise!

So many hugs and so much love and such fun was had at the wedding. Can’t congratulate Melissa and Alfonso enough- if anyone deserves for their love story to be splattered in the pages of an annual magazine like Ceremony, it’s them! Pick one up sometime this year for more heart-melting eye candy.

Hoping that your day is filled with double scoops [of different flavors] and exceeded expectations!

xoxo,

Our intimate seating table complete with hanging crystal-and-plexiglass chandelier, whipped together by the In The Now team!

To give you a quick background: this event was loosely based off of the inspiration shoot we’d worked on together a few months prior. An upscale bridal party for a group of close friends was the idea [almost a bridal party brunch of sorts] and we whipped out some fabulous details that were original and gorgeous [umm just ask me- was that too much tooting of my own horn?!]! For this shower, we wanted to give a distinct look and feel that was different than the last shoot we’d done, but still emulated the idea of intimacy and class. So, we themed it right quick: diamonds are forever.

Left: each of the girls, on their place settings, received a perfectly obnoxious large fake diamond ring to flaunt for the day. Stuck in the ring box for this photo, is the menu. We kept it simple by printing on pretty white paper and wrapping with a sparkly twine. Each “i” in Bianca’s name was adorned with a rhinestone accent.
Right: we wanted the party to feel very clean, simple and streamlined, so we opted for all-white, monochromatic and mono-styled florals in clear rectangle vases. Shown is a vase of tulips but we varied them between roses, hydrangea, and ranunculus as well.

Left: Because we wanted things to be uncluttered, we opted to brand the water glasses as a way to seat the guests. Each name was marked on the outside of the glass using a vinyl sticker.
Right: A view of the table’s details- the gorgeous sparkling charger plate as well as the luxe dupioni silk napkin. We paired frosted plates with white china to mix elements of diamond white and sparkle throughout the event!

Jasmine mentioned this on her blog- but, the real inspiration for this party was the fact that Jas herself had to miss her sister’s bridal shower due to the busy wedding season. We wanted to create something extra special and ultra personal. We did our best to infuse style and class into a party we knew had to be kept intimate and special for someone so near to Jasmine’s heart!

Left: our menu, which was thematically named after the “four c’s of diamonds”- cut, color, clarity, and carat. They also coincided with each dish, which I loved! We’re quite thematic.
Right: A detail shot of our gorgeously dripping chandelier

Left: A twist on the perfume station at the shoot, we opted for a salt scrub station with simple scent options at Bianca’s party. The jars were pre-filled with chunky salt and an unscented base [baby] oil, and ready for scenting!
Right: The oils were displayed neatly, stacked onto boxes full of crushed white glass and donning simple descriptive name tags. Spoons were placed to the side of each, for the gals to give a quick stir and mix in the scent thoroughly.

A shot of the scent station all lined up.

The invitation read that the guests should wear white to this daytime soiree- and it worked out perfectly that Bianca wore a steel grey dress [that of course we found for her- because what girl doesn't love being STYLED for her special occasion!] to give her that extra pop of special attention.

Left: In the blurry foreground, you can see that our simple cake plates were adorned with shimmery ribbons to give extra pop. Our branding was kept simple and featured throughout the event on these clear stylish easels.
Right: The cake was simple, luxe, and delicious! With a sugar-encrusted center tier, and complete with a “floating” cake topper [which is really a plexi disc and embellished with vinyl decal], it was a smash hit!

For an extra fun bonus, we set up a white chocolate fondue station complete with white hot treats! The gals munched and laughed as they relaxed in these ridiculously fun exaggerated wing back chairs.

Left: Mini covered ice cream dishes were brought out to compliment the warm fondue goodies. Guests could dip their choice of cheesecake, angel food cake, or rice crispie treats [or all 3!]. The clear skewers set the perfect mood, as did the thick glass plates the items rested on. In case you can’t tell, the clear skewers are also crystal-adorned at the bottom tip! An extra touch of perfection [and a painstaking detail!!]
Right: A shot of our coveted wingback chairs [as well as a splash of our homemade sequin lumbar pillows- soo cute! We're thrilled the gals enjoyed this sweet treat station!

More dipping, eating, and laughing!

I firmly believe that presentation is EVERYTHING when it comes to even the smallest of parties. So, when we focus on our events, we focus on how the guests will be exposed to the details. Things like trays, description or instruction cards, lining up of signature drinks, or any display become crucial elements in your guests' experience of your day [wedding or not!]. Knowing this, we planned B’s gift station accordingly. With a place for everyone, and everything in it’s place.

Left: Bianca’s thrilled to open her gifts from guests- you’ll note the ridiculously oversized clear disc with the word “gifts” splashed across it. That allowed guests to know where to drop their offerings. The small settee made a perfect place for the bride to sit. Each chair for the guests had a mirrored table next to it, boasting a personal champagne bucket, mini POP bottle, and a flute for sipping.
Right: A light splash of French Lemonade [like sparkling lemon water, really] lined up just so and enjoyed along with the desserts from earlier.

Left: To really give a flow to the event, and knowing this portion was to be outside- we continued the feel of the blue color by bringing it in through the mini bottles of champagne. This close-up look at the side tables shows what each guest was offered at the event while Bianca opened her gifts [typically this time is such a "write off"- we really wanted to make it a touch more special for this one!].
Right: After the gifts are open, a group hug and toast all together was enjoyed by the girls.

And just so you know how fun it really turned out to be, here’s a few shots of the gals enjoying themselves in it:

The wedding was fun, whimsical, rustic, chic, and totally personality-driven with one of the most characteristic and lovely couples we had the pleasure of working with from 2010. It’s always an honor to have our efforts noticed [and featured]- and I couldn’t be more honored to have a team of people assembled who are willing to work hard, make beautiful events happen, and do it all with a smile on their faces!

Hop on over to the post for lots of pictures of their gorgeous wedding feature! And of course- more thanks must go to Matt and Molly Snelson for their incredibly consistent work capturing amazing photos of our truly-in-love-ly couples [um, just made that term up and I am SO into it!].

xoxo!!

Well- THIS was my secret! Ever since we had the chance to work with Jasmine Star earlier this year, we’ve been connected at the emotional hip. So when she called me to ask about designing a fabulous party for her twin sis, Bianca and her quickly approaching wedding, we were absolutely delighted [and honored, inspired, thrilled, literally laughing with excitement]! The best part? It was for an intimate group of good friends. So, one table to set, one delicious activity needed, one small cake and one day to totally leave a lasting impression for a girl I grew to love like my own family. Bianca is just as infectious as her twinner and I’m so honored to know them both. The shower we put together graced the pages of the most recent issue of Inside Weddings Magazine [their winter issue] and I couldn’t be bubbling with more joy from it!

The 2-page spread:

This is truly just the tip of the iceberg for images from this perfect soiree. I cannot wait to do a full feature of Jasmine’s gorgeous images in the near future [you'll die at the fondue station, the mini milk shots, and the crystal chandelier that didn't make the feature]!

Jas and B: thanks for entrusting this huge job to us! We truly loved being a part of it, whipping it together- making it classy, timeless and full of love for such a special lady. This is just the tip of the iceberg for you, too, you know. :)

xoxo,

Thanks to Kristin Rogers for setting this feature up [with a little encouragement from yours truly]. This wedding was a total wonder to work [um, hello mini sliders as a plated dinner and a chorographed first dance to that epic song from Stranger Than Fiction?? SIGN ME UP!]. I love reliving the moments of it through each and every photo.

Hop, skip and jump on over there already!

xoxo,

Thanks again must go to Dave and Sandy Richards for the wonderfully vibrant, happy photos. And, seriously, doesn’t everyone want ‘happy’ photos?? I know I do for you!

Visit the rest of the images [and you can click through the gallery, too!!] here!

Special thanks to Hugh Forte for taking pictures that are so irresistibly delicious that they were begging for the blogging! Josh being a photographer himself, they definitely chose wisely! And a shout out to our own Brittany and Dawn for coordinating so flawlessly and giving it their whole heart! Proud to know you girls, as always!

A few snaps:

And- go visit the full feature for more!!

xoxo,

The main focus was to capture a true lifestyle feel to the images- and because we had a rockin’ backdrop like The Pearl Hotel, it was easy to bring that effortless retro feel in. I love me some mid-century!!

Our models were so super awesome and put up with my ridiculous ideas [like eating candy buttons, pretending to be post-wedding-rehearsal [bow-quet and all], and “writing your vows in the hotel bar the morning of your wedding”…. you know, that kinda stuff]! And they did it with grace and gorgeousness. For that, we can all thank them!

And of course so so so many kisses-of-love to our fabu vendor team:
Photography: Joielala Photographie
Hair/Makeup: 1011 Makeup [she makes beautification look easy and feel fun]
Venue: The Pearl Hotel
Video [coming soon]: Ever-awesome Nick @ Crafthouse Productions
Styling: The Gals @ In The Now [That's us!!]
Products: Wedding Chicks [and their genius minds... seriously]

And don’t forget to view the feature about us all on Style Me Pretty!!

Until next time, my dear friends!!

xoxo,

And thanks to Jeffra @ WeddingWire for being so super awesome and believing in the styling that I do.

xoxo,

A.

Tell me Pip the mini-boat isn’t thee most adorable thing you’ve ever seen. You can’t, right? Because he is, huh? I KNOW!

[See the whole article with more nautical images here]

Splish splash around a bit this week, ya know??

xoxo,

A.

I cannot tell y’all what a total *thrill* it was when I found out, inadvertently, about this feature on everyone’s beloved Style Me Pretty! I’ll bet you remember Lesa and Eric now dontcha? I actually knew this wedding was special from moment one. The couple is so full of joy and to top it off, their details and colors were so fun [and we were so, so excited to be a part of them, take care of them, and think them into life!].

It is an honor, as always, to be recognized for what we feel we’ve been hand-picked by God to do. I’ll just say it- I’m blessed beyond measure. Thanks for the shout out, and I’ll try to keep my head on straight enough to not swell with pride the way I want to right now.

As for you- I hope this inspires you to keep planning, leave some fun to the pros [and let them surprise you with creative fun that will surpass your expectations], and remember to fall in love every day! You know… like this:

And if you haven’t had a chance to look yet… go now! It’s worth your while.

xoxo,

A.

Rush on over to Grey Likes Weddings to see the post they put together! I love every moment of it. Candice and Geoff were truly a dream to work with! Aside from knowing them both personally [such a perk], they trusted me 100% with the details of their day and we churned out a magical wedding for their guests- and an idyllic day for them! Yay team In The Now!!

xoxo,

A.

Live it. Feel it. Breath it. Love it.

xoxo,

A.

Check out our two-part feature on the Ruffled Blog, the Vintage Cafe Shoot:

[And don't miss that *cute* logo on the right either- how stinkin SWEET did our graphic come out???]. Make sure you go ahead to see Part 2 as well, because it features the most tender “walk of shame” EVER for these little newly-weds!

More to come on this incredible session in the future- but for now… enjoy the photos!

xoxo,

A.

So when our fabulous shoot photographer Jasmine Star told me she’d sent the photos from our cute-tastic Vintage Parisian Chanel Inspired Photo Shoot their way, I was in full-swoon for it! We got accepted, placed, and raved about so quickly it felt like a true whirlwind experience. I adored being a part of the shoot [and the head designer after the initial concept was presented to me] and these photos just remind me of such a fun, lovely experience. More on the shoot later, but for now… go leave love HERE and enjoy some great photos!

Big props to Jaclyne our amazing florist and of course my design partner-in-crime, Rachelkins!! Everyone deserves a sanity-keeper… am I right? Glad that I have mine!

xoxo,

A.

The Party Dress recently used images from our adorable Orange and Yellow Summer Tabletop in an inspiration board:

The Wed Bug featured Alicia’s gorgeous Valentine’s Day Wedding shot by Adrienne Gunde:

The Wedding Yentas also featured a wedding of Alicia’s from last season… Emilie and Ross!

And lastly, the blog Marry You Me gave us a sweet little hollar on the Stylelab Workshop Wedding Chicks featured last week!

Yayers!!

xoxo,

A.

I could NOT be more thrilled with the way the ideas were captured by fave photog Chenin Boutwell. She turns everything she snaps right into gold- so I’ve been giddy since moment one about this!

The stylish workshop was broken up into a couple of posts- so be sure to visit ALL of them and leave love for your fave event stylists over there!!

Wedding Chicks Part 1

Wedding Chicks Part 2

Definitely there are MORE images, descriptions and fun to come regarding this workshop so stay tuned for more! Thanks so much Amy, Jocey, and Chenin for allowing me to turn a portion of a San Clemente Golf Course into a dreamy, Nantucket wonderland!!

xoxo,

A.

This delightful sweets table that I’m sure you remember has seemed to get my blog and twitter friends clamoring with excitement! And rightfully so! Thanks to Cyd at The Sweetest Occasion for the wonderful little write up and feature of our perfectly placed desserts!

It’s an honor to be featured anywhere, but when blogs come out of the woodworks to love on something you’ve had your hand it… it’s truly a new level of humbling! Thanks to all my readers, friends, family and fans from my deepest heart… in ways you’ll never know, you are the ones that have kept me in this industry, creative and brimming with excitement! Jump on over to The Sweetest Occasion to see more of us and so so SO much more weddings!

Happy sunny day, y’all!

xoxo,

A.