LOVE: Modern White Wedding Decor

I recently helped out with a photo shoot that some awesome local wedding vendors put together, and I am completely in love with how everything came out! (You may recall my excitement over the sneak preview.) MMD Events created the design and decor, and Limelight Photography photographed the shoot.

I had never really seen anything like this, and I KNEW I had to share it! Everything was all white and modern, with clean lines, lots of candlelight, and hints of sparkle. I actually made the origami cranes that were part of the shoot too! A chandelier of the cranes and crystals was created, and I'm so excited that I had a part in the creation of something that beautiful! This decor would be perfect for a winter wedding at a modern venue, such as an art gallery or museum. However, if the decor is done right, you can achieve this look at just about any venue, and of course at any time of year!

Thank you to Limelight Photography for these gorgeous photos! MMD Events puts together some amazing and original decor...it's so much fun to work with them and see empty spaces transformed into beautiful events! Decor makes SUCH difference in the look and feel of a wedding. This all white decor is modern, yet classic, and elegant, but fun! So who wants all white decor like this now?

Give Your Wedding Cake a Bit of Style

Starting next week I'm going to be posting gift ideas on Fridays, because I always have the hardest time thinking of gifts for people, and I've found a couple of good ideas through some various blogs! And since a week from today it will be "Black Friday" (I can't believe it's already here!), I figured it will be appropriate to kick off the holiday posts then!

For today's Friday Finds I wanted to share Raise The Cake with you. Raise the Cake is a cake stand studio, creating beautiful cake stands and even cupcake stands too! Since the cake is often one of the focal points of the room, you want it to be as gorgeous as possible, right?

A cake stand is something that a lot of brides don't think about, but it makes a huge difference in the display of the cake. Your cake baker may have their own cake stand to provide you with, but it will most likely be something gold or silver, and that's it. You can have a plain white cake, put it on one of these cake stands, and it won't be plain anymore. Or you can have the cake design and the cake stand match, so then the stand just looks like another cake tier! A great solution if you want the look of a large cake but don't have the budget to have a huge bottom tier. Whatever way you use one of these cake stands, it will be a gorgeous addition to the display of your cake!

*All photos via Raise The Cake

They're all so gorgeous, right? No matter what the theme of your wedding is, there is sure to be a cake stand to match! You can order from the Raise the Cake Collection, design your own by choosing the fabric, ribbon and "bling", or have one completely customized for you. These cake stands are such a wonderful way to add a bit of decor to your cake! Who's planning on using one of these beauties for their wedding?

My Paper Cranes in a Photoshoot!

When I was going through my blog reader, I stumbled upon this photo board on Limelight Photography's blog, said, "oh that's pretty", and then I realized it included some of my handiwork! I got excited and had to share it!

This photo shoot was designed by MMD Events, a company that I work for, and they asked me to help out with part of the design. What part is that, you ask? Well, paper cranes. Yes, I taught myself how to make paper cranes. Four tutorials and lots of folded paper later, I can now make paper cranes in my sleep! It was so much fun to teach myself a new skill! And now to see not one, but two photos of my work is so exciting!

Paper cranes included, the photo shoot turned out beautifully! The white, the crystals, the sparkle, the lighting! Limelight took some amazing photos, and I absolutely love the white and sparkle factor! Hopefully I'll be posting some larger and more close-up photos soon!

DIY Monday: Tin Can Lanterns

These tin can lanterns are perfect for a rustic outdoor wedding at any time of year. I can imagine these lanterns lining the aisle of an evening ceremony or the walkways outside of a reception, instead of using the paper luminaries that are commonly seen. They would be especially great now, since with the time change it's now dark by 6:00 PM!

Via Intimate Weddings Blog

You can go over to the Intimate Weddings Blog for directions on how to make these lanterns. They seem simple enough! It basically involves a pattern, something to poke holes through the can, and spray paint in your choice of color.

What a great way to recycle cans and be able to reuse them! These would even be great to use as holiday decorations with holiday patterns and colors. Whatever event you decide to make these for, they're a great addition of candlelight and decor!

DIY Monday: Stir Sticks

For this week's DIY project, I thought some stir sticks would be a fun and easy project to do! Stir sticks will add instant pizazz to the drinks served at your cocktail hour or bridal shower! They may be small, but they will definitely add A LOT to the look of your event!

Via Style Me Pretty

{Instructions from Abby: So, all you need to do is print this template out on 80lb card stock (try Paper Source). Using a 3.5″ hole punch, cut out the circles. Then using either a small amount of glue or some double stick tape, adhere them to corn dog or popsicle sticks (corn dog sticks are a little bit longer). Voila!}

Via Bridal Party Tees Blog

{Click on the link above. You can save the templates and change the wording yourself in Word or Photoshop!}

Via PrintYourParty's Etsy Shop

{The stir stick designs above are $10 for the template, and can be color customized for $5-10, depending on how much customization you would like done! Take a look at the options, they're super cute! You just download your custom labels, print them out, and cut or punch out (using a 1.5 inch round punch) to your heart's content!}

Via Style Me Pretty

{Another stir stick project from Style Me Pretty! The materials needed and step-by-step instructions can be found at this link. They're a bit more than just cutting out circles, but they look great!}

I'm imagining a photo of several drink glasses in guests' hands, with gorgeous stir sticks in them! It may be something small, but it can add a huge amount of pretty detail to your event! Is anyone planning on using stir sticks like these at their wedding or bridal shower?

DIY Monday: Fall Family Tree

Since this is the last week of October, I thought I would end it with this pretty DIY project. Laurie Cinotto shared this craft with The Bride's Cafe as an alternative to displaying family photos at a wedding. This fall family tree would make a wonderful piece of decor at a wedding, but it would also be incredibly functional as a piece of home decor!

Via The Bride's Cafe

It could even be revamped a little bit! The possibilities go on and on-small palm branches for a beach wedding, or willow branches for a spring wedding. Add some Christmas tree branches, different colors and shapes of ornaments, candy canes, or snowflakes, and voila- you have a new holiday decoration! Full instructions and more photos are on The Bride's Cafe.

Using something like this would also be an excellent way to do escort cards! I see escort card displays being integrated into the decor of an event more and more, and I love it! Is anyone thinking of using something like this for their wedding or event?

DIY Monday: Pumpkin Decor

I coordinated my very first wedding on my own this weekend! It was a rustic fall theme (Pictures to come soon via Studio 222 Photography!), and it thankfully got cooler the day OF the wedding, so it truly did feel like fall! That being said, I was surround by pumpkins being used as decor for a considerable amount of time this weekend. Therefore, I felt it appropriate to do a seasonal DIY post just for pumpkins!

Photo Credit

Now of course you can go the traditional route and carve your pumpkin. There are stencils that you can download and print out, or you can even create your own!

However, when wanting to use your pumpkin for a nice bit of decor, I think stenciling a design onto the pumpkin would be great! Twig and Thistle recently posted a link to a tutorial from Better Homes and Garden of "How to Make a Stenciled Pumpkin" using a doily.

It's so very pretty, so if you haven't already carved your pumpkin, try this out! My husband unfortunately demolished our pumpkin and made pie out of it already, so if you try it out, let me know!

Now if you REALLY want to use pumpkins for decor, these glittered pumpkins are amazing!

Via Martha Stewart

My bride from this weekend used some of these as decor elements, and they were so pretty! They would be perfect for a Halloween party! You can find the tutorial here on Martha Stewart's website.

Does anyone have any other ideas for how to use pumpkins as decor?

DIY Menu Wheel

When I saw this very cool DIY project, it immediately went on my list of things to share with my readers!

Photo via Design*Sponge

Anna of Rifle Design created this incredibly fun menu wheel! Since this is a somewhat time intensive project, it would be ideal for a small wedding. However, it would also be a great idea to just put one or two at a table! It would be a great icebreaker for your guests too!

{The instructions, along with detailed photos, can be found on Design*Sponge.}

I would love to host a dinner party where I could make a few of these! I'm thinking of perhaps making these for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, in the appropriate colors. Anyone have an event coming up that you could make these for?

DIY Decor: Pom-Poms

I'm still in wedding decor mode from the amazing wedding I helped with this past weekend, so it seemed fitting to share one of the trends in wedding decor I've been seeing!

You may have recently seen a lot more tissue paper pom-poms being used as decor at weddings. These fun and whimsical decorations are also perfect for a bridal shower or baby shower! Thanks to Martha Stewart and her tutorial on how to make them, tissue paper pom-poms are becoming a common decor item! It's a wonderful DIY piece of decor to add a pop of color to an event and it's also such a fun element!

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings


Photo from Style Me Pretty


Photo from Style Me Pretty, by Katie Anderson Photography


Photo from Rock, Paper, Scissors

You can also get a pom-pom DIY kit from the Prost to the Host Etsy Shop! You can save yourself the time of cutting and measuring, but still put the poms together!

Photo from Prost to the Host

Are any of you planning on using tissue paper pom-poms for an upcoming event, or have you? I can't wait to have an excuse to make them!

Fall Wedding Season Begins!

So it's now October, and in the wedding industry, it's the start of the Fall wedding season! My first official wedding with the company I'm apprenticing with, MMD Events, is tomorrow and I'm so excited!

Here are some of the photos from a recent photo shoot that MMD did the decor, design and floral work for! Design and decor of weddings is something that I adore, so when I saw the photos that Limelight Photography did of MMD's work, I had to spread the beauty!

Gorgeous! The pink is so chic, and that centerpiece is amazing! So whimsical!

Look at how much draping and uplighting can do for the design and decor of an event! Wonderful work MMD and Limelight Photography! [Go to Limelight's blog for extended vendor information.]

I'll be doing another post in the next few weeks all about decor and design for events. In the meantime, I'm sure I'll be posting some TwitPics of upcoming weddings, so follow me on Twitter to keep a look out for them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

*All photographs by Limelight Photography

DIY Decor

I've had questions about ideas for DIY items, so I wanted to share some great DIY decor ideas. Every bride almost always ends up doing some sort of DIY project, whether it's for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, or the wedding. There's an urge that overcomes you when planning a wedding. You just HAVE to make something. And of course what better way to fulfill that urge than to make something useful and beneficial to your wedding? So behold, some great DIY decor ideas for you crafty brides (and bridesmaids, and mothers, and friends).

Ice Cream Sundae Buffet

Instructions found at Eat, Drink, Chic

Wishes Banner

Instructions found on Style Me Pretty's Style Circle

Stir Sticks

Instructions found on Style Me Pretty's Style Circle

Lighted Garland

By Anna of Rifle Designs, Instructions found at OnceWed

No-Sew Garland

Instructions found at paper n stitch

Any other ideas for DIY decor? Are you incorporating any DIY items into your wedding?

I'll be posting some DIY favor ideas next in the DIY series. Feel free to send over anything that you've "done yourself" for your wedding, bridal shower, or just any party! I'd love to see what everyone is doing!