Category: Inspiration Boards

Inspiration Board: Berries & Stripes

by gaby

I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I LOVE today’s inspiration board. It started with the image top left, and has grown into a board I want to put on my party best and climb inside of. Because how can you not love the marriage of city sophistication and wine farm charm? Classic elements like swirly calligraphy invitations, white roses, chandeliers and a gleaming getaway car mix perfectly with softer country touches – hypericum berries, a wedding signpost, dining under the vines. Serve guests a choice of champagne or this swish gold take on mason jar cocktails during pre-dinner drinks, and wow everyone with a beautiful, sophisticated cake (from local caketress Roxanne Floquet). I love the way that the grey pinstripes bring everything together, and the palette of grey, black, white and gold with little pops of berry red smacks of sophistication. Of course, a swish bride deserves a swish dress, and I’m totally obsessed with this one! Like I say: I love all of it. Hope you do too!

Colours: Grey, black, white, gold and red

Top row (l-r): Red hypericum boutonniere (Andy Duback); wedding car with gifts (Jose Villa); wine bottle table numbers (Missy Cochran); grey striped ribbon bouquet wraps (Cari Photography)
Row 2: Calligraphy letterpress invitations; gold shoes (Jose Villa); wedding signpost (So Happi Together/Gabriel Ryan); gold mason jar with stripey straw; champagne with berries
Row 3: Bride & groom (Yvette Roman); rose bouquet with red hypericum berries (Stephanie Hunter Photography); cake with ribbon and crown details (Roxanne Floquet); vineyard chandelier tables (Jose Villa).

Inspiration Board: Elegant Pewter

by gaby

Hello lovelies! I’m back from my holiday, feeling refreshed and tanned and enjoying a last little day off for the bank holiday today. Greece was spectacular, and apart from having tonsilitis for a few days, I had the best time. And the food! Oh my word. I’ve eaten enough fresh fish, feta and calamari to feed a small Greek army. Not to mention the spectacular sunsets… Sigh. Back to reality. Of course, when reality is getting to make pretty inspiration boards for Cap Classique brides, then reality aint so bad! As you know, I just love when readers get in touch to ask for their very own inspiration boards, and today’s was created especially for Elana, who has chosen pewter and white as her colours. Elana is getting married at Dieu Donne, a stunning Franschhoek venue that is all light and glass and views and facebrick, and she wanted to create a look that was classic and elegant. Think all white flowers (with touches of fynbos), long silvery bridesmaids’ dresses, mirrors and chandeliers, with macaroons as favours. I don’t know what Elana’s planning for her dress, but I love the idea of including a brooch detail either on the dress or shoes, and picking this up with the cake later on – a subtle way of pulling everything together. But the idea that really made me excited was including suspended blossoms either above the tables or as a backdrop in a key part of the space like the dancefloor or dessert table. This is a hot trend at the moment, and it’s just the kind of quirky, memorable detail that can set the decor apart. The overall effect is beautiful and timeless. Hope you like your board, Elana!

If you’d like to request your own inspiration board, email me at capclassique {@} yahoo {dot} co {dot} uk.

Colours: Pewter & white

Top row (l-r): Rose and fynbos bouquet; bride & groom (Bowersock Photography); Badgley Mischka shoes (Amy Wellenkamp Photographers); champagne flutes (Natalie Spencer); fynbos confetti (Nikki Meyer)
Row 2: Chandelier detail at Dieu Donne (Roxy Laker); suspended blooms; ornate mirror table plan (Shoot Lifestyle); grey and white macaroons (Taylor Jackson Photography)
Row 3: View at Dieu Donne (Lizelle Lotter); hanging flowers; centrepiece (Amy Wellenkamp Photographers); bridesmaids in pewter dresses (Shoot Lifestyle); cake with brooch and ribbon detail.

Inspiration Board: Santorini Dreaming

by gaby

Morning everyone! Or, should I say, kalimera, since I’m sunning myself in the Greek isles as we speak. Just me, a stack of books, the sea and a sunlounger (plus my lovely friend Michelle, of course). But before I left, I prepared this little slice of Greek inspiration for your Monday morning. I’ll actually be in Crete, which has quite a different vibe, but when I think of Greek inspiration, I picture the gorgeous rich sapphire of the roofs of Santorini (which is still on my dream travel list), and I think it would be gorgeous – used sparingly with acres of floaty whites and glitzy gold – at a (big fat Greek) wedding. Add texture with that most Mediterranean of foliage, olive branches – formed into a simple bouquet, arranged in urns, or even spraypainted gold for opulent feature pieces. Use blue for details like glass goblets and chargers, and bridesmaids’ dresses if you can match the fabric (otheriwse go for more white or pale blue). Needless to say, this is a dream for any bride to dress – most designers now have at least one Grecian-inspired piece, and you can combine this with pretty gold sandals and hair accessories worthy of a goddess. Make sure to serve some of the wonderful Greek cuisine and break a few plates after shots of ouzo. Opa!

Top row (l-r): Santorini roofs (Style Scrapbook); sandal; Greek menu board; Greek isle-style letterpress invitation (Bespoke Letterpress Boutique)
Row 2: Grecian hairstyle from Gossip Girl; bridesmaids in Santorini blue; gold olive centrepiece (); place setting (Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations/Jill Thomas Photography); chair back (Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations/Jill Thomas Photography)
Row 3: Santorini wedding (Punam Bean); olive bouquet (Punam Bean); donkeys (J. Cogliandro); bride and groom (J. Cogliandro).

Inspiration Board: Candyfloss & Lemonade

by gaby

Ah, summer. There’s nothing like it. And for the most part, this British summer has been nothing like it. Which is why I’m off to Greece on Friday, woohoo! But in the meantime, I’m dreaming of a lighthearted beach wedding in shades of candy pink and warm yellow, with candyfloss and pinwheels and bunting and ribbon and stripy straws, and everything that makes a day at the beach carefree and wonderful transported into a wedding. You could even have a cake made to look like a sandcastle, and why not? Compliment your decor with soft flowers including cute Billy balls, and dress your bridesmaids in adorable alternating pink and yellow dresses. Oh, and don’t forget the popsicles/lollies! I love the idea of making alcoholic versions of these and serving them to your guests instead of cocktails. How cute would that be?

Colours: Pink and yellow

Top row (l-r): Candyfloss; flip flops (Natalie Spencer); bride door sign (Kristen Weaver Photography); pink and yellow bouquet (Honey & Poppies); heart sweets (Creative Push)
Row 2: Summer love sign (Sarah Layne Photography); sunglasses; beachy dessert table (Party Dreamz/Frog Prince Paperie); pink and yellow bunting (Stephanie Cristalli); lollies
Row 3: Bride with bridesmaids (Kai Heeringa); ribbon garland (Party Dreamz/Frog Prince Paperie); ribbon wands (Cameron + Kelly/Sedona Bride); lemonade with stripy straws.

Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Vintage Safari

by gaby

This week we’re featuring three safari-themed inspiration boards to show how a single theme can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Which one is your favourite?

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Thursday, hooray! Almost the end of the week. You’ll have noticed by now that the blog schedule’s been shaken up a bit what with 3 inspiration boards due to appear this week and then the unexpected quiet day on Tuesday. But whatever, let’s just go with it. So today I have the next in our inspiration board series, and the latest trend roundup due this afternoon. And tomorrow is going to be jam packed, so be sure to keep checking back!

I’m really excited about today’s board, because it’s a reader request as well as the second variation on the safari theme I’m featuring this week. Simone contacted me to help with ideas for her game farm wedding. She didn’t want the ‘typical’ safari decor, with animal prints and Big Five table decorations, but preferred vintage decor and softer colours. (It should go without saying that this is a style reference to Sydney Pollack’s Out of Africa, rather than suggesting any kind of glorification of colonialism, obviously.) You’ll remember a few weeks back we touched on this as part of the Blog Around the World post, and Alicia put together that look so perfectly that I couldn’t help using a few of her images again (click here and follow round all the blogs to get all the pictures) but I combined them with a palette of sage green and soft coral which I hope Simone will love. It’s inevitable that there are going to be lots of brown neutrals in a bushveld environment, and these colours lighten and modernise things up a little and complement them perfectly. The real key to this look is in the interplay between wild natural surroundings and classic fine dining elements, so for table settings you’ll want patterned crockery, crystal glasses, silverware (I love the idea of using old silver to contain flowers) and pressed linen. The really fun part is in including lots of found vintage objects – gramophones, compasses, storm lanterns, binoculars, and of course old suitcases (which you can use as props in a number of ways). Scout around your friends and family’s homes to begin with – you may find some gems! I’d have the bridesmaids in floaty, slightly vintage green dresses, and the bride in a gorgeous vintagey gown (birdcage veil is a must!). Fill your table with lush white blooms and pops of coral, and a few succulents. And don’t forget the cocktails! This is the perfect place to serve a classic (and delicious) G&T.

Colours: Sage, coral, white, beige and bronze

Top row (l-r): Bouquet; bride with giraffes (Fancy Fin Photography); bride with binoculars (Fancy Fin Photography); safari tent
Row 2: Out of Africa book cover; cocktail; compass escort cards; table setting (Jose Villa); hurricane lamp with jewellery (Fancy Fin Photography)
Row 3: Bridesmaid dress (Nadine Photography); gramophone (Justin & Mary); flowers (Jose Villa); boma reception; vintage suitcases.

 

Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Chic Safari

by gaby

Happy Monday folks! We have one of my favourite features on Cap Classique this week – 1 Theme 3 Ways, where I bring you three inspiration boards around a particular theme or motif, all with very different looks. Safari style isn’t something we always associate with the Cape, since there are such spectacular bush venues around the rest of the country, but I’ve had many requests recently for safari style (more about venues later this week). In fact, one of this week’s boards was designed specifically for a reader who is considering vintage safari as her theme. But today I thought I would start with a more modern palette – one that is bang on trend in fact: green, grey, black and white. I know lots of you want to avoid the very obvious animal motifs, but I think a touch of zebra works perfectly here – just be sparing and use it wisely. I love the combination of pale green and grey bridesmaid dresses and a delicate white and green bouquet with a touch of brunia, and then bolder graphic touches like the zebra stationery and the black and white striped rosette. And this being 2011, we can’t not have a bit of sparkle – how gorgeous is this bride’s bolero? This look is ideal for a couple who want an elegant modern wedding that still has a touch of the bushveld about it, or who want to reflect elements of a game lodge setting without going overboard, and it’s very easy to achieve. I love it – what do you think?

Colours: Green, grey, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride with sparkly bolero (onelove photography); green and grey bridesmaids’ dresses (13:13 Photography); hanging lanterns (Cari Photography); lamp with rosette (Cari Photography)
Row 2: Zebras; bouquet with roses and brunia; I Married Adventure (onelove photography); rings with stamp (Laura Ashbrook Photography)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Zara Zoo); zebra stationery suite (Paper Moss/Laura Ashbrook Photography); outdoor reception (Shanna Jones).

Inspiration Board: Par Avion

by gaby

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow, it has been an exhausting weekend for me – I finally did the big move, so it has been non-stop packing and unpacking, etc. What a schlep. But I’m so excited about my new place, and can’t wait to get decorating! One of the best parts is that I have an en suite bathroom again, so get to pull out of storage a fab little gadget I have – it’s a bath rack/caddy that stretches over the bath and instead of having place for soap, has a rack for a book, and a holder for a glass of wine. Actually, it also has place for a candle, but I figured paper… alcohol… flame… maybe not the best idea! Anyway, I can’t wait to make use of it again, and with all my sore muscles from carrying boxes and a day of cleaning today, I’m sure I will soon! ANYWAY, on to today’s board, which is inspired by a different kind of moving: travel! As you may have picked up, I adore air mail stripes, and I like the idea of combining them with a soft vintage palette and fun travel, aeroplane and postage-inspired details.  It brings together the idea of love letters, and far flung places, and the old world romance of the aeroplane. This would be perfect for a couple who have done long distance, or just for one who love to (or long to!) see the world. Favourite real wedding detail? The ‘departure planes’, which were thrown at the bride and groom as they made their exit instead of confetti. Cute, huh?

Colours: Peach and soft neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bride with bouquet (Tying.the.Knot Wedding Coordination); bouquet (Ella Jae Weddings); dresses (Jose Villa); globe (Rock Paper Scissors Events/Ohana Photographers); vintage suitcases with framed escort card display (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography)
Row 2: Airmail invitation; aeroplane biscuits; air mail stamp; DIY toy glider save the dates
Row 3: Departure planes (Nine Photography); vintage plates; boutonniere (Josephine Sicad); airmail escort cards on map (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography); cake with stamp garland.

**Like this idea? Click here for more travel-inspired wedding details.**

Inspiration Board: Message in a Bottle

by gaby

Happy Monday lovelies! I’ve been dreaming up this inspiration board for months, ever since I saw the line of dresses in the second row. I just love how the soft pinks and blues work with beach neutrals and a touch of dark grey, and it reminded me of a beautiful beach sunset. There’s a dreamy, castaway feeling to this palette, and it would make for the most romantic of seaside weddings! As always, the key is in the textures – a billowy bride’s dress, fabric floating in the breeze, and coloured glass, contrasted with rustic touches like raffia, coral and shells, and indigenous foliage like brunia. I’m obsessed with the astilbe bouquet, and I think it would be perfect to complete the look. Plus, don’t you love the sailor’s knot favours/escort cards? I pretty much just want to dive into this board and stay in it forever. If only… ;)

Colours: Pastel pink, blue, white and slate grey

Top row (l-r): Beach sunset with boat (Millie Holloman); sailor’s knot favours (Simply Bloom Photography); couple on beach (welovepictures); bottles (Millie Holloman)
Row 2: Dresses (Lane Dittoe); astilbe bouquet (Windy Dougall); urchin place setting (Elizabeth Messina); cake (Elizabeth Messina); torches (Elizabeth Messina)
Row 3: Couple with banners (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); map (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); flowers (Simply Bloom Photography); ceremony seating (Elizabeth Messina).

Inspiration Board: Green & Gold

by gaby

Good morning everyone! My apologies that last week I didn’t get to post everything I had planned – bear with me, as there’s an awful lot going on behind the scenes. For now, here’s this week’s inspiration board and it’s one of my personal favourites! Green and gold are very special colours to South Africans, as they’re our national sporting colours and also represent our beautiful land and its natural resources. So I can’t think of a more appropriate palette for a South African wedding, and don’t they just look beautiful together?! By adjusting the details slightly you could make this work for just about any season, and add more rustic or more sophisticated touches depending on your venue and taste. One of the details I love is the elegant use of green glasses and gold utensils to get the colour scheme across on the table without going overboard. In terms of flowers, you could really go with any white flowers but I ADORE the combination of ranunculus and baby’s breath in this bouquet, and baby’s breath makes a great filler for elsewhere around the church or venue, which can allow you to have a bigger floral presence than you may otherwise be able to afford. Green shoes are a must for the bride, and this is a perfect opportunity to dress your girls in trendy white bridesmaids’ dresses. In terms of DIY, moss monograms are simple and incredibly lovely, and I also love the gold spraypainted wishing tree for your guests to leave messages on. And you guys, how gorgeous is this cake? All in all, I think it makes for a beautiful wedding. Who knew you could be patriotic so prettily?

Colours: White, green and gold

Top row (l-r): Place setting (Rebecca Hansen Weddings); ranunculus bouquet; white bridesmaids’ dresses (Atlas and Campbell); wedding cake with gilt and lace details (Sweet and Saucy Shop)
Row 2: Wishing tree; moss monogram letters; green shoes (Leo Patrone); general decor with hanging mason jars (Jamie Grenough)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Tec Petaja); invitation suite (EvaPaul Design/Rebecca Hansen Weddings); mini toffee apples; baby’s breath with gold monogram letters (Hailey Erickson)

Inspiration Board: Pretty in Purple

by gaby

Happy 4th of July to all my American readers! Today’s board is another reader request (I’m loving how many requests I’m getting these days!) – this time from the lovely Ingrid – and I have to admit, it was a bit of a challenge. I knew exactly what I was looking for, but it wasn’t easy to find in the right colours. I’m so excited with how it turned out though, and I hope you are too, Ingrid!

When Ingrid emailed me, she knew exactly the sort of colour palette she was after for her Kleinevalleij wedding. She’d also fallen in love with the table arrangements for this unbelievable Style Me Pretty wedding, which pretty much inspired everything else. Let me break down this look a bit. The key is in its contrasts: modern paired with a bit of vintage and a touch of rustic. Succulents and silver? Shouldn’t work, but they SO do. The components – lush purple flowers (dahlias! so gorgeous!), succulents, mercury glass, wooden boxes, moss, distressed ceramics and silver. I’ve added in a few avian details and some blackboards and lilac for even more of that French country style. Doesn’t it look amazing together?

Ingrid’s bridesmaids are going to be getting their own dresses, so she wanted to make it easy for them, and chic little black numbers are a great way forward. To distinguish the girls, I suggested giving them long strings of pearls that they can all wear in a different way, but purple shoes are another alternative (Ingrid could wear sparkly and silver if she wants to stand out). I love that guests would start off with a classic black and white wedding (maybe with a couple of small purple touches in the stationery at the ceremony) and then be wowed by the whole look when they move into the reception hall. I see a lot of weddings currently at Kleinevalleij using some pretty grey/silver damask tablecloths, and these could also work brilliantly here. I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to see how this wedding turns out! (And don’t forget – if you’d like me to create a board just for you, drop me an email and let me know a bit more about what you’re looking for.)

Colours: Deep purple, lilac, grey and green

Top row (l-r): Purple bouquet (JL Designs/Marianne Lozano); silver and succulents (Stephanie Williams); printer’s tray (Stephanie Fay/Jasmine Star); feather boutonniere; lavender wreath
Row 2: Bride with succulent hair accessory (Stephanie Williams); arrangement with candles (Stephanie Fay/Jasmine Star); bird ornament (Amber Events); bridesmaids in little black dresses
Row 3: Shoes (Jani B); blackboard escort cards (Millie Holloman); signature drinks; purple envelope with calligraphy (Corbin Gurkin); distressed ceramics.