Inspiration Board: Rise & Fall

It may be spring here in South Africa, but it’s been autumn all over the blogs of my fellow wedding bloggers in the US and it weirdly has me almost longing for the chillier season again (don’t worry, I’ll get over it). So in honour of that, I’ve put together this ‘fall’-themed board, a seasonal take on this month’s boho/wild beauty theme. Using traditional copper and red earth tones and adding in soft mocha and ivory, it still looks like a classic autumn palette, but the details enjoy that natural, organic, unbound look that we’re loving so much at the moment. I’m especially loving the ceremony area, including a glorious branch ‘tipi’, as well as the shiny pops of copper against the florals.

Top row (l-r): Bride with curls (Michael Radford Photography/Jen Plus Colour) | Copper table number frame (Dawn Charles/Seven Stems Design and Events/Mary Me Bridal) | Copper bottle candle holders (OctaviaplusKlaus/factsandfeelings/Goldregen florales Design)
Row 2: Autumn bouquet (Archetype/Rebecca Rose Events) | Plum & thyme prosecco smash cocktail (My Diary of Us) | Semi-naked cake (Petra Veikkola Photography)
Row 3: Place setting (With Lov3- Emme Wynn Photography) | Boho ceremony area (Lauren Fair Photography/Oleander) | Invitation (Christine Gosch/Camel & Birdie)

Inspiration Board: Bahama Black Tie

Well guys, as you read this, I’ll be arriving in the Bahamas for a SUPER exciting press trip and corporate retreat hosted by Aisle Society and Sandals Royal Bahamian. I’ve always yearned to visit the Caribbean and I can’t quite believe I get to do it this week, and with some of my favourite bloggers and fellow girlbosses too. Dream. Come. True. Needless to say, you’ll be hearing all about it, but do follow along on Insta for some fun behind the scenes. The timing is also pretty perfect blogwise, because today we’re kicking off our latest month of themed content – SBB is going tropical! I have such lovely content lined up for you beach and tropical brides, but I had to start it all off with a beautiful inspiration board. I just love the look of tropical botanics, gold and Kate Spade-style dots and monochrome prints – a sophisticated twist on this fun theme. And of course, the cheeky pineapple is the perfect motif to complement that.

Colours: Green, gold, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs) | gold pineapple | groom (Anna Delores Photography/Joelle Charming ) | swiss dot wedding dress (Justin Hankins Photography/Isha Foss Events)
Row 2: Pineapple invitation (Lolo Lincoln) | pineapple wax seal (KT Merry Photography) | chairs (Frame 36 Photography)
Row 3: Bridesmaids (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs) | table setting (Christina Brosnan/Pearl & Godiva) | Bahamas house with palms (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs)

 

Inspiration Board: Enchanted Blue

It’s funny with inspiration boards – sometimes I feel like I’ve done loads of a particular colour or combination recently, and then I look back at my archive and realise I actually haven’t. So maybe it’s just all those colour combinations floating around in my head. That’s what happened with today’s board, because it turns out I haven’t done anything with pale blue for ages. That made me really happy, because it gave me an excuse to play with powder blue and gold, which I’m sorry, is just completely dreamy! I adore this romantic but not to feminine combo for a wedding, especially the way that the cool of the blue and the warmth of the gold complement each other perfectly. What more do I need to say?

Colours: Powder blue, sand & gold

Top row (l-r): Ballerina bride {Archetype}; blue & gold table decor {KT Merry/Joy Proctor}; individual cakes {Alicia Pyne Photography/Sugary And Chic Cake Boutique}
Row 2: Cake with coloured candles {Warm Photo/Special Day}; flower girl in lace crown {Whitney Neal Photography}; gold candyflossRow 3: Tent breakout area {Jemma Keech/Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings}; gold shoes {Marissa Lambert Photography/Jimmy Choo}; foiled pear placecard {Weddings By Sasha}; blue bridesmaid dresses {Elizabeth Henson Photos}

 

Inspiration Board: Navy & Rose Gold

Hello friends – how was your weekend? Hope it was full of fun and glamour and champagne – after all, that’s the vibe we’re going for in today’s little inspiration board! We’re taking a mix of grown-up navy, romantic blush, and glamorous rose gold – there really is no end to the fun you can have playing with metallics in your palette, and this is the perfect twist on blush and navy, which has been getting more popular in the last few years. Just add a vintage getaway car, a sophisticated dress, and some sparkly bridesmaids, and you have a fresh, glam look. Another option would be to add in a bit of dove grey, which goes great with all of these shades.

Colours: Navy, blush, rose gold, white

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Rustic White Photography/Mandy of Waiting on Martha, Inc./Lindsay Coletta}; table setting {Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography/The Southern Table}; cake {McCune Photography/Grand Engagements/Sweet and Saucy Shop}; gold dress {Emilia Jane}
Row 2: Place cards; gold bridesmaid dresses {Amanda Crean Photographers/Lauren Kelleher}; rose gold votives; champagne coupes
Row 3: Bride & groom {Trent Bailey Photography}; vintage car {Mademoiselle Fiona}; invitation suite {Jupiter and Juno}

 

Inspiration Board: Metallic & Blush

Where on earth do we learn the rules of what does and doesn’t ‘go’? Because I very specifically remember being told by someone a couple of decades ago that gold and silver didn’t, and never the twain shall meet, etc. But here we are, and not only are mixed metallics a thing, they’re gorgeous. I love a mix of gold and silver together, and when you add blush into the mix, you have the perfect combination of sophistication and romance.

Colours: Gold, silver, blush & white

Top row (l-r): Dress with embellishment {Robin Lin Photography/A Southern Soiree}; bridesmaid dresses {Jessica Lorren}; centrepiece {Bradley James Photography/Hey Gorgeous Events}
Row 2: Cake with leaf detail {Elizabeth Messina}; pink shoes {Caroline Joy Photography/Badgley Mischka}; blush ruffle clutch {Perez Photography}; silver sequin tablecloth {Yasmin Khajavi Photography/Zest Floral and Event Design}
Row 3: Blush dress {KT Merry/Monique Lhuillier}; mini champagne tower {Sylvie Gil/L’Relyea Events}; marquee decor {OneLove Photography}

 

Inspiration Board: Golden Lace

Hello lovelies – I’m back from my reunion weekend away (which was fab) and holed up in bed with a cold (not so fab), so bear with me as I share today’s board a little later than usual. August is going to be our month of bling – or at least, our theme is ‘Glamour’, so after some weeks of organic, we get to look at the glitzier side of wedding design. And you know my magpie heart loves me some gold, so we had to start with a golden inspiration board! For this one, I’ve combined this glam metallic with the classic vintage element of lace, resulting in something I think is really very pretty. I also love how gold stands out against a palette of white, grey and pewter – mixed metallics really are a fave of mine. But most of all, I’m in LOVE with that amazing gold lace dress – isn’t it amazing? Now that’s a showstopper.

Colours: Gold, greys & white

Top row (l-r): Gold lace gown {Krikor Jabotian}; Luscious Lacing wedding invitation suite {Wedding Paper Divas}; table setting {JoPhoto}
Row 2: Gold lace cake {City Sweets & Confections/Anna Williams}; flower girl {Dolce & Gabbana Junior}; Menbur ‘Strass’ pump
Row 3: Gold filigree cuff; gold lace chair cover {Tonya Peterson Photography/Utah Events by Design}; lace cuffs

Inspiration Board: Rose Gold & Greenery

Good morning lovely ones! I am back (and rested, after passing out for ten hours last night) from the loveliest hen weekend for my beautiful friend Michelle in Clarens – so fun! I just love a good hen – it’s such an awesome chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and spoil the bride before her big day. And if budget permits, a weekend away is the best. Especially in such a gorgeous place – now I see why so many of y’all have chosen it for your weddings. ANYWAY, I’m kicking off the week with another inspiration board, this time combining stark white and rich greenery with the elegant warmth of rose gold. Delightful.

Colours: Emerald green, white & rose gold

Top row (l-r): Laser cut chair sign {Host and Toast Studio}; dress with dipped sequin effect {Truvelle}; porcelain envelopes {Red Raven Studios}
Row 2: Table setting {Ben Q. Photography/Lindsey Zamora Wedding Styling + Design/The Southern Table}; rose gold engagement ring {Suzanne Kalan}; flower girls {Jose Villa}; leaf sash {Something Ivory}Row 3: Candles {Kae & Ales}; bride & groom {Jose Villa/Laurie Arons/Sarah Winward}; shoes {Sarah Postma Photography/J Crew}; candles & greenery {Jose Villa Photography/Brooke Keegan Weddings And Events/Holly Flora}

Let’s just take another look at that amazing wedding dress, shall we? It’s called Sierra, and is from the Truvelle collection (see our feature on it here), which just happens to be available in South Africa at the LOCA Vintage Bridal Lounge in PE. Sierra has a dreamy chiffon overlay that melts into rose gold sequins, creating the most gorgeous ‘dipped in glitter’ effect. Swoonage.

 

Inspiration Board: Stormy Weather

All of this month we’re bringing you boards inspired by the colours in Pantone’s Fall 2015 palette, but today, instead of combining two or more, we’re focusing on just the one. When I was looking up images for our Pantone bridesmaid inspiration post last week, I just fell in love with Stormy Weather, a beautiful shade of dark grey that I think is amazing for a winter or autumn wedding. I actually think it works well on its own, with some lighter shades of grey and cold weather natural textures, but I couldn’t resist warming it up just a little with a touch of copper, and oh my gosh, I love it! Cool, sophisticated and cosy, all at the same time. And with a bit of a romantic, Wuthering Heights feel too. So here you go. Stormy weather isn’t always a bad thing on your wedding day ;)

Colours: Pantone Stormy Weather, dove grey, copper & white

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Adam Barnes/Amanda Gray of Ashley Baber Weddings/The Arrangement Company}; place setting {Cassidy Carson/12th Table/Kelly Lenard}; bride {Sibo Designs}
Row 2: Grey dress & ring {Brosnan Photographic/Pearl and Godiva/Claire Pettibone}; copper foiled invitations {Cocorinna}; copper ring
Row 3: Grey candles {Cox & Cox}; copper cake; bride & groom {Braedon Photography}

 

Inspiration Board: Sequins & Succulents

Happy Monday, lovely friends! And what better way to start a Monday than with a bit of glitter? One of my favourite things in wedding design (okay, design in general) is the pairing of two unexpected elements – a chandelier in a tree, black tie in the bushveld, or – as we have here – sequins and sparkle with the classic of rustic flower design, the humble succulent. In fact, succulents have come a long way since they were associated exclusively with rustic weddings, and now you’ll find them prettying up just about any style of celebration. So whether you’re a rustic bride looking for a bit of sparkle, or a formal one looking for a softer natural touch, this is the perfect combination.

Colours: Green, white, taupe, shades of gold

Top row (l-r): Sequin bridesmaids {George Rivera/Nature’s Design}; succulent mini cakes {Christa Elyce Photography/Ellanesque Weddings/Sugary + Chic Boutique}; succulent centrepiece {Jillian Mitchell Photography}
Row 2: Succulent letterpress invtation suite {Ruby the Fox/Mary Kate McKenna Photography}; succulent & anemone in mercury glass {Mi Belle Photography/Artisan Events}; sequin tablecloth {Esther Sun Photography/At Your Door Events/Flower Allie}
Row 3: Gold succulent {Brandon Kidd/The Little Branch/Lady Liberty Events}; succulent bouquet {Maggie Harkov/Meg Savage/Melarosa}; boutonniere {Braedon Flynn/XOXO BRIDE/Modern Day Design}

 

Inspiration Board: Hydrangea & Brass

Good morning, lovelies! Did you have a fabulous weekend? Today’s inspiration board is very much my kind of wedding – an elegant, slightly rustic style, long tables under the vines, lush hydrangeas everywhere, and the genteel vintage kiss of brass detailing. Oh and let’s not forget an absolutely gorgeous cheese cake! Sometimes a board (and a wedding) theme is as simple as combining two beautiful elements, and I think the mix of white and green hydrangeas with brass makes for an absolutely perfect combination, and one from which to build a beautiful understated scheme.

Colours: White, brass, moss & mushroom

Top row (l-r): Brass candlesticks {Ameris/Smart Events}; calligraphy escort cards {Carmen Santorelli Photography/Private Receptions/TucciCursive}; cheese cake {Ocello}; vineyard table {Shannon Stellmacher/Cole Drake Events}
Row 2: Hydrangea centrepiece {LMarie Photo/Galas By Gerry}; invitation suite {Ashley Kelemen/Smitten On Paper}; brass candlesticks on table {Jose Villa}
Row 3: Mirror, frame & crate display {Sonya Khegay/Latte Decor}; hydrangea bouquet {Dawn E. Roscoe Photography/}; hydrangea arrangement on wine barrel {Marisa Holmes/Ninfa’s Flowers}; bride & groom {Emmie Scott}