This photograph is like a scene out of a dream sequence… the clouds…the soft breeze… Rachel & Juan sharing a smile on what seems to be the middle of a planet, stopped, just for them… aahh… it is sooo romantic! This photo was actually taken on the Cabrillo State Park in Point Loma by the talented, Melissa McClure. Neither alone or in the middle of nowhere but never the less sharing one of the many moments that await their happily ever after…
xxo!
Brenda
I have never been a huge fan of a sea inspired wedding themes, until… Ursula slapped me in the face with a sinister under-the-sea splendor. I felt as though the same basic seashell and starfish decor dressed in light colored hues had become highly overrated and uncreative. Today’s inspiration board has reignited the spark between the romantic ocean ambiance and my un-enthused perceptions.
This mood board’s palette is centered around the warm colors of the ocean rather than the common bright whites and shades of blue. Personally, I feel centerpieces are a pivotal element in conveying the overall theme to your guests. With a few statement pieces as the focal point, you can go simple on table and glassware thus avoiding too much clutter. The clamshell runner joined with coral accents and candles embrace the moments that have left an underlying statement of warmth and happiness; that of the emotion you feel when you are in the presence of the one you love.
Buuut…..Hold on décor, you might have to take the back seat on this one to a bombay necklace and scaled diamond pumps fit for any Ariel awaiting her prince Eric. These pieces were pulled straight out of a King Tritons treasure chest refusing to go unnoticed!!
The seashell bouquet and sea urchin boutonniere encompass the “washed up” beauty of the ocean… You know, where you’ll find those uniquely-shaped shells, when walking along the shore & think to yourself “this is going to be a keeper!” What do you think about this Ocean theme??
How I love for the ocean…
xxo!
Stephanie
1. Bombay Necklace, 2. Oyster Garland, 3. See Urchin Boutonniere, 4. Sea shell and Wood Flower Bouquet, 5. Coral Centerpiece,
6. Scaled Diamond Pumps, 7. Oyster Shell Centerpieces, 8. Oyster Shell Votives.
For those brides who want an edgy twist for their wedding, be it bold or subtle… bring on the patterns! Transport those carefully selected combinations of beautiful colors and textures from your paper products, linens, or flowers to your dresses! Either of these dresses are perfect for standing behind the bride or for attending the rehearsal… Heck, give me one of each for any day of the week!!
xxo!
Mandilee
Ann Taylor Butterfly Whispers
Maxi Dress from myuniverse Etsy Store
I would love to introduce you to Pam from Cake Ball Love. Brenda met Pam last year through twitter… which comes as no surprise to those who are also users of it. After having one of our beautiful Swannys continuously disappointed with the lack of options for her wedding sweets, Brenda reached out to Pam in hopes that she could help realize our bride’s dream of something unique for her wedding dessert (which she did!). It only took one late night rendezvous to start what has become a beautiful and delicious, relationship!
Even though Pam has been baking for as long as she remembers, she started her business only about a year ago. She never thought that she’d have a business in baking, but the joy of creating cake balls has launched her into the endevor which has grown exponentially. I asked Pam to share with us what keeps her motivated as a cake-baller extraordinaire:
“I love taking traditional cake decorating techniques coming up with new and “out of the box” ways of approaching them on a cake ball cake. I think the challenge of new ideas and concepts is what keeps me going. Constantly trying new things keeps me motivated.”
Creating goes far more than just making sweets though, Pam’s design process begins with the selection of flavors, to which she adds: “I suggest that a couple pick up to four, simply because after having more than four cake balls, you don’t taste the flavor anymore, just sugar.” Once the flavors are picked, the design process begins! Pam especially loves it when brides bring visuals, whether it be invitations, a color palette or a picture of something that embodies the feeling of their wedding, she loves to be able to create with that influence just for the couple and their wedding and she never replicates a cake.
Cake Ball Love offers everything from the simple cake ball, to cake pops, and cake ball cakes. She also has gluten-free and vegan options, with a variety of flavors that change with the seasons (yeap, they are made form scratch!). We love Pam & hope you do too!
xxo!
Ania
Photo by Elle G. Photography
Photo by Laura Christin Photography
Photo by Melissa McClure Photography
Photos by La Vida Creations
It’s no secret that my heart belongs to the city… any city… as long as it has concrete and tall buildings. While San Diego pales in comparison to some of the bustling concrete jungles near and abroad, this shot is so perfectly “SD” – Blue skies, palm trees, mirrored buildings, and a stunning Swanny couple right in the middle of it. Who am I kidding? Our city is the best of of all worlds.
Diana & Jon had they wedding reception at the Omni last summer and it was spectacular! The cocktail hour was on the outdoor terrace that had sweeping views of Coronado and the city, then the party rocked all night in the upper level ballroom… I seriously felt like a VIP rock star going up and down the escalator to have to get to all the different parts of the party… there’s just something about hotels that is so cool kat awesome…
It doesn’t get any better!
xxo!
Brenda
Photo by Bronson Pate of Bauman Photographers
Some believe that black isn’t a color for a wedding. Me, I say black brings a dramatic yet sophisticated element. Any bride profound and self-assured enough to incorporate it, certainly deserves to be the center of attention! Do you dare wear the boldest of wedding dresses??
Today’s Fabulous Friday piece goes out to all the brides willing to convey their personal inner rebel by wearing a black wedding gown. Designed by Darb Bridal Couture and photographed by Bradley Kanaris, this gown exudes elegance and opens the gateway for positive perceptions of black at a wedding. Next thing you know, your best friend will be wearing black on her big day too!
Do you love it? Could you own it??
xxo!
Stephanie
Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.
