Handpicked | Fall 2012 Trends - Color Clashing

Today's Fall 2012 Trend - Color Clashing - mix and match any of these vibrant and unique hues for the perfect color fashion combination!  Bonus - most of the items picked today come in a variety of colors :o)

1} Stovepipe Trouser in Wool Flannel - $138 - I'm in love with wool trousers like these - having them in a fun color is just a bonus!

2} Polka Dot Flock Pop Fabric Trousers - $79.90 - These couldn't be cuter!!

3} Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jean in Garment-dyed Twill - $125

4} Perfect-fit Boatneck Tee - $32.50 - This tee is the perfect cut for everyone and the bubblegum pink is so much fun!

5} Silk Shirred Neckline Half Placket Blouse by Vince - $275

6} Pop Blazer by Ark & Co. - $59 - Boyfriend blazers are fabulous and so in right now!

7} Claire Silk Dress by Shoshanna - $360 

8} Double-cloth Lady Day Coat with Thinsulate - $325 - Why not have your winter coat offer a pop of color?

9} Nutcracker Coat by Tinley Road - $98

baci loves. . . Vera Wang Spring 2013 Bridal Collection

Miss Vera has done it again - her Spring 2013 Bridal Collection is so breathtakingly beautiful and edgy (Bridal gowns in color?!?  Swoon!!) that I'm literally at a loss for words!  See some of my favorites below just to get a taste of what I mean :o)

| Cardinal strapless ballgown with hand-rolled floral detail skirt and horsehair trim |

| Dahlia strapless ballgown with notched neckline and lifted tulle skirt with crystal embroidered detail |

| Scarlett mermaid gown with tiered, micro–bias bodice and inverted flange skirt with abstract floral shoulder corsage detail |

| Dahlia strapless open back, V-neck ballgown with lifted tulle skirt and tiered flange, hand-cut petal embroidered |

| Scarlett strapless ballgown with tulle panel skirt and embellished flange appliqué and hand-rolled floral, Chantilly lace detail |

Wedding Trend Forecasting | Colors {Brights - Neon Green, Orange + Bright Pink}

Happy Leap Day!!

Continuing with our Wedding Trend Forecasting - today we've got the first of three gorgeous inspiration boards for you that incorporate the colors you're bound to see in 2012 weddings!  First up - brights!!

{Image Sources Clockwise Starting in the Top Left - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Katie's Lake Bridal Shower | 05.14.11 {Willoughby, Ohio}

I'm so excited to share this beautiful "Sweet and Spicy" Bridal Shower with you today!!!  I, along with the mother and sisters of the groom, threw this little soiree for one of my best friends and college roommate, Katie, in May earlier this year.

The sweet pink, fiery red and spicy orange themed shower was held at Olivor Twist in Willoughby, Ohio.  Guests were invited on baci designed white linen with red backing invitations requesting guests wear pink, red or orange attire to the event.  Each guest was asked to bring a sweet or spicy recipe with them to the shower on the provided card.

When guests arrived at the venue, they were asked to choose their name tag slogan - "I'm a little sweet. . ." or "I'm a little spicy. . ."!  They were greeted by tables draped with white linens, carnation centerpieces in red vases, pocket fold red linen napkins with baci designed menus placed inside and tasty Spiked Pink Sherbet Punch {recipe below}.

After dinner, guests were directed to the dessert display.  All the tasty treats were made by family members or the hostesses - they ranged from spiced carmel truffles to choco-berry tartlets, seriously yummy!!  Gifts for the shower games were in various shades of shower colors and included some of our favorite kitchen spices :o)  The favors were a perfect combination of sweet and spicy with a pink rock candy sucker and spicy jalepeno pistachios!

Spiked Pink Sherbet Punch

Recipe Originally by Paula Dean on The Food Network

(Printer-friendly Link)

2 quarts sherbet (Any flavor will do - we used raspberry to go with the color scheme, but I generally use lime)
2 liters ginger ale
1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
Lemon slices
Lime slices
Maraschino cherries

1)  In a punch bowl, add 2 quarts of lime sherbet. Then add ginger ale and pineapple juice.
2)  Decorate with lemon and lime slices and some maraschino cherries.

Wedding Wednesday | Valentine's Day Inspiration

In honor of Valentine's Day I designed this "Valentine's Day Inspiration Board" with different shades of pinks, reds, and whites. I picked this gorgeous Oleg Cassini gown that is short in the front so a bride can wear sexy, but fun red shoes, like the ones pictured below from Zappos. Candy buffets are becoming more and more popular every year. A bride and groom can pick any type of candy that is red (red hots), pink (bubble gum), or white (mints) to emphasis a Valentine's Day themed candy buffet.

Row One: Oleg Cassini for David’s Bridal Strapless Faille with Sweetheart Draped Bodice {Style CT326}; Floral Image from 100 Layer Cake

Row Two: Ceremony Photo by Anna Rozenblat

Row Three: Shoes by Me Too {Style Janette} available on Zappos; Ice Sculpture Image by Jami Lee

Row Four: Rose Bouquet Photo by Jami Lee; Candy Buffet Image from The Sweetest Occasion

Row Five: Heart-shaped Cookie Cutters from beaucoup

New Wedding Aces Post: Stone, Shell and Navy

The final board for the 2011 Color Combinations - Stone, Shell and Navy - is up on WeddingAces. It is, in a word, heavenly!

New Wedding Aces Post: Gold, Teal and Deep Blue

It really doesn't get much more gorgeous than the third 2011 Color Combination - Gold, Teal and Deep Blue - posted on WeddingAces yesterday!

New WeddingAces Post: Peach, Ivory and Mint

The second of the four 2011 Color Combinations is up on WeddingAces! It's probably my favorite - there's lots of tulle and ranunculus, two of my favorite things :o)

New WeddingAces Post: Honeysuckle, Plum and Mercury

The first board for the 2011 Color Combinations is up on WeddingAces - head on over to check it out!

New WeddingAces Post: 2011 Forecasting - Color Combinations

Be sure to head on over to WeddingAces to read my first post in the 2011 Forecasting Series! First up are Color Combinations - with full inspiration boards on all four color combos to come!!!

Are you using any of the predicted color combinations for your big day in 2011?

Wedding Wednesday | A Royal Wedding Inspiration

With the recent rumors that the amazing Bruce Oldfield will almost certainly be the dress designer for newly engaged Kate Middleton, I just had to create a Royal Wedding Inspiration Board! The gorgeous sapphire engagement ring that used to be Lady Di's and Kate's off-the-rack engagement announcement dress set the tone for The Wedding of 2011. Judging by Kate's classic style and love for basics from BCBG and Diane von Furstenburg, I think this might be a glimpse into what we'll see on April 29th - the epitome of vintage elegance with varied blue and gold tones.

Row One: Bruce Oldfield Style Gene Bridal Gown; Boutonniere and Footwear Images from 100 Layer Cake (By the way - their new site is LIVE now!!); Jan Kish La Petite Fleur Cake Photo from The Knot

Row Two: Headpiece Image by Brandy J Photography; Engraved Invitation by Arzberger Stationers

Row Three: Bridesmaid Bouquets and Bridal Bouquet Images from Style Me Pretty

Have you heard these other rumors about the big day? The Overtones or Elton John to play at the wedding. . . and Snoop Dogg has written a song for Prince William's Bachelor Party!

What if baci held a Royal Wedding Viewing Party - complete with invitations, petit fours and a champagne toast - would anyone be interested? Obviously we'll all be watching it, so why not make a party out of it! Please comment with your interest and I'll start planning the festivities :o)

Wedding Wednesday | Final Project

My Wedding and Event Planning Certification Course is coming to an end next week so I've been working steadily on my final project - Combining two unique heritages into a wedding for a "client" (classmate) using the course's A6 Event Production Formula (stating how you'll incorporate Anticipation, Arrival, Atmosphere, Appetite, Amusement and Appreciation into the event). It's so much fun and I adore the gorgeous inspiration board I created for my in-class presentation so I thought I'd share :o)

Row One: Table Decor Image from Style Me Pretty; Bride Photo by Abi Q Photography

Row Two: Vera Wang Dress Photo from 100 Layer Cake; Floral by JL Designs; Signage and Ring Images from Style Me Pretty

Row Three: Uplighting Photo from Tara Guérard Soirée; Shoes Image by Sarah Yates Photography; Floral by JL Designs

Row Four: Cookie Bar Image by Cheyenne Schultz Photography; Wine Bottle Table Number by Joyful Bride Online; Designs by Lilmissi Etsy Shop Image from 100 Layer Cake

Wedding Wednesday | Real New York Wedding Inspiration

Love!!! The only word to describe how I felt the moment I laid eyes on this gorgeous Real New York Wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes! Held at The Bowery Hotel and shot by the amazing Susan Stripling Photography, the wedding is so wonderfully New York that I just had to create an inspiration board with the images :o)

Here is the list of all the incredible vendors that helped create this gorgeous wedding:
Photographer: Susan Stripling
Calligrapher: Love*Jenna
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Dress Designer: Ines di Santo
Reception Venue: The Bowery Hotel
Event Designer: Daughter of Design
Floral Designer: Antheia
Makeup Artist: Jason T Beers

Wedding Wednesday | Fall Inspiration

Since today is the First Day of Fall, I thought it would be the perfect time for an inspiration board! This board features textures galore (you've heard it once, you'll hear it at least twenty more times this season) with felt, lace, feathers, cork and crocheting. I adore dark colors for Fall, so I chose an ivory, chocolate and olive palette with just a hint of plum. Enjoy!

Row One: Our Labor of Love; Emily Ayer Twitpic; Vera Wang

Row Two: both photos by bobbi + mike

Row Three: Julie Atwood Events; dress and hair piece images by brandy j photography

Row Four: LaCheri Event Boutique; bobbi + mike

Wedding Wednesday | Real Wedding Inspiration

Obviously, I love weddings - I've chosen to surround myself with them each and every day. Weddings make me happy, plain and simple. Another thing I love? Abi Q Photography (and Miss Abi Q herself, for that matter). So when I tuned into her blog and found Nic and Erin's Incredible California Wedding, I fell in love with Abi Q just a little bit more :o) The photos, captured with that sexy vintage look, make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

To see more breathtaking photos like these from Nic and Erin's Palm Event Center Wedding, as well as the sweet, sweet things Miss Abi writes about the happy couples be sure to hop on over to the Abi Q Photography blog!

Wedding Wednesday | Real Wedding Inspiration

I love wedding blogs. Seriously, love them, so it only makes sense when I find inspiration each time I visit one. That's what happened when I checked in on Once Wed recently - leah + jon's Northern Georgia Wedding took my breath away! Their wedding was held at Crane Creek Vineyard, stylized by the uber talented Joy Thigpen and photographed by the incredible David and Kendrick of Our Labor of Love. . . not to mention paper goods by Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer Handmades!! The talent this wedding incorporated is amazing! Here is the beautiful inspiration board I created from Our Labor of Love's images, enjoy!

For more images and details from this gorgeous big day (including what Joy made those gorgeous flowers from!!) go here, here and here, oh and here, too :o)

Wedding Wednesday | Power Plums Inspiration

Inspired by Sephora's Power Plums Look, yet executed with Fall nuptials in mind, this All Purple Inspiration Board is seriously fierce!

Flipping through the Sephora Fall 2010 Catalog, I saw this quote from Founder of Sephora by OPI, Suzi Weiss, "The biggest news is that all skin tones can wear purple! Purple is a combination of opposites - hot red and cool blue - making it skin tone neutral. Choosing the depth, tone and texture is more about how you want to accessorize with purple, how you want to express yourself and your mood." This not only goes for beauty, it totally applies when choosing your wedding color palette as well!!

Row One: Style Me Pretty; Vera Wang

Row Two: Sarah Yates Photography; Power Plums Look by Sephora

Row Three: JL Designs

Boden, Autumn 2010 - My Current Wish List

When I received Boden's new Autumn 2010 catalog in the mail the other day I immediately picked out some of my favorites and here I am, sharing them with you :o)

1) Boden's Merino Roll Neck Dress (in Aubergine, of course) would be hands down the most comfortable dress to wear in the Fall EVER! 2) I've been on the hunt for new, cute, black flats and these Corsage Pumps might just be the ones - I adore the jewel embellishments. 3) You all know I'm obsessed with the perfect pencil skirt. The Sixties Skirt - in any color - would be a great addition to my warm-weather wardrobe because of the heavyweight jersey material. 4) Once again, I looked all last Fall and Winter for black coat to replace mine (I've had it for way too long) and the Islington Coat is to die for!

Check out Monday's Handpicked for more fabulous Boden looks!

Wedding Wednesday | Real Wedding Inspiration

My best friend, Katie, is getting married next summer and I have the pleasure of not only being her Matron of Honor, but of helping her plan the glamourous details for her big day! Katie has so many incredible visions for her wedding and they all start with her amazing color scheme - peacock blue, moss green and gold. I created an inspiration board to show you just a little of what's making of swoon when it comes to her big day - texture, deep tones and just the most tasteful touch of bling!

Row One Images: The Knot; Style Me Pretty

Row Two Images: Ryan Phillips Photography; Garrett Nudd Photography; The Knot

Row Three Images: Jenny Yoo Bridesmaid Collection - Phoebe in Baltic Blue; M.A. Belle; Sarah Yates Photography

Row Four Images: Garrett Nudd Photography; Ryan Phillips Photography

Wedding Wednesday | Peach + Pink Bridal Shower from Green Wedding Shoes

What do you get when you're in the bridal business and you get married? Incredible everything!! That's exactly what happened when Leila Khalil of Be Inspired PR, a Wedding Public Relations Company, got married this year. Leila's Bridal Shower images were posted on Green Wedding Shoes (one of my fave wedding blogs btw!) yesterday and I just had to share them with you!

Her sister, Kellee, and Carissa of JL Designs threw the shower with the help of Courtney from Joyful Weddings and Events. Enjoy the eye candy :)

And now for the list of incredible vendors. . .

Dessert: Pinkberry

Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop

Cupcakes: Cupcakes Couture

Custom scent station: Kamilyn

Venue: High Profile Productions

Floral and event design: JL Designs

Planner: Courtney Toney, Joyful Weddings and Events

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals & Level 4 International

Linens: Elegant Designs

Invitation: Momental Designs

All other paper goods: Olive Hue Paper

Video: Cana Video Production

Photographer: Jessica Claire

Hair and make-up: Kacee Geoffroy

Spray Tan: Danielle of Island Spray Tan

Leila’s bridal shower is featured in the current issue of Bridal Guide magazine and if you want to get the view from her side, check out her most recent blog post!