New Wedding Aces Post: 2011 Forecasting - Fashion

The second part of my 2011 Forecasting Series is up on WeddingAces - follow this link to check out the whole post, complete with sources.

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 | Inspiration

I am a firm believer that surrounding yourself with successful people is the key to having success in your own life. If your friends and family don't provide inspiration, it's hard to ignite that spark all on your own. When your friends are equal parts creative and passionate, it's easy to constantly be influenced to reach for that next level.

I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people in life. My circle of friends includes photographers (Alaina at Ace of Images, Brandy J and Sticky of Brandy J Photography), designers (Agnes from Blossom Accents), DJs (Anna and Justin of Something New Entertainment) and the all-around fabulous like Jessica of A Foxy Wedding + Foxy Social Media, The Enlows from Loco Photo Booths and Triple-threat Actress/Singer/Model Cassie Simone. My "virtual" friends are amongst some of the most incredible people as well - Abi of Abi Q Photography, Annette from Chaviano Couture, Alicia at Sophie - A Design Boutique, Joy and Garrett of Garrett Nudd Photography + Cobblestone Rue, Lisa with Sapling Press and Tracy at Simply Stated Designs. And when it comes to family, the amount of talent certainly doesn't come up short. . . just to name a few: my multi-talented sister (this girl can take photos and organize an event like the best of them), my amazing Mother (cake baker and all-around creative lady), the Knitting and Baking Accountant Cousin Rachelle, Cake Baker Extraordinaire Grandma and melt-your-heart-with-their-voices cousins, aunts and uncles!

These full-of-talent souls provide me with inspiration day-in and day-out. . . but when I need specific wedding visions I hit up my favorite bridal-focused blogs. These are some of the best places you can find inspiration for your big day!! So take ideas from the incredible talent you surround yourself with and mix in a little bit of goodness from some of the following:

100 Layer Cake

Green Wedding Shoes

Snippet & Ink

Style Me Pretty

Wedding Aces (I might be mildly partial to this site - lol!)

Weddings Unveiled

baci loves. . . Fifty Flowers

I mentioned the other day that Ilario and I used FiftyFlowers.com for our wedding flowers, so I thought I'd express my absolute LOVE for them today :)

Bridesmaid Bouquet Image from our wedding day by Brandy J Photography

FiftyFlowers is a wholesale flower boutique that is the most fantastic place for a DIY bride - they have served over 17,000 brides over the past 11 years! Not only do they offer some of the most beautiful flowers - from basic roses to the unique kangaroo paw - they are incredibly affordable. Since they have farms worldwide, a flower that is generally out of season (and therefore expensive) won't break your bank. You can even call, e-mail or chat with their in-house wedding flower specialist team to help you choose, design and order your wedding flowers. All flowers are sent direct from the farm to your doorstep - guaranteed on time and fresh.

Image from FiftyFlowers.com

When we got married, California was experiencing multiple forest fires, which started destroying fields of flowers as well. I, of course, started having a mental breakdown when everything but my ranunculus showed up on the as-promised delivery date, but when I spoke to FiftyFlowers on the phone they helped calm me by tracking my flowers and telling me exactly when they'd arrive the next day - everything worked out beautifully. I would personally recommend FiftyFlowers.com to anyone! My sister and I even used them to decorate for our parents' 25th Wedding Anniversary Party - once again beautiful and affordable!

Image from FiftyFlowers.com

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

A post I wrote about Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness on Your Wedding Day was featured on WeddingAces yesterday and since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month I think it's worth sharing with all of you Designing Woman readers.

Fellow WeddingAce Melissa also wrote a great post about Breast Cancer Awareness and Your Wedding Gown - head on over to check them out!

You've also seen me feature a few recipes from the fabulous Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, Limited Edition "Pink Plaid" For Breast Cancer Awareness - it has an extra added 64-page "Pink" section full of recipes containing foods associated with cancer prevention.

Speaking of things useful in the kitchen, KitchenAid has an entire "Cook for the Cure" line collection of fabulous "Pink" products!

I promise to get back to the regularly scheduled weekly posts next week :)

Holiday Inspiration

My Fourth of July post - Backyard Bliss - went up earlier this week on WeddingAces, but it's one of my favorite inspiration boards that I've created so I had to share just in case you aren't following WeddingAces (which you should be!). So here it is in all of it's glory, enjoy!

Row One: Centerpieces Image from Style Me Pretty, Daisy Cake by Martha Stewart Weddings, Polka Dot Escort Cards Image from Snippet & Ink

Row Two Image by Tec Petaja Photography

Row Three: Menu from Style Me Pretty, Sparklers by Sparkle, LLC, Stacked Bouquet Holder from Design*Sponge

I know it's a day early, but have a very merry, happy Fourth of July (because, let's face it - tomorrow I'll be in the backyard drinking beer, eating bratwurst, playing yard games and watching fireworks)!!

A Touching Moment

The other day my WeddingAces's post "A Tribute to Fathers. . ." went up in celebration of Father's Day, but today I came across what would have been the perfect addition to my photo tribute.  

I just couldn't help sharing it - what a beautiful moment captured by Jenna Walker Photographers.  I hope that all the daddies out there enjoyed their special day yesterday!!

My First WeddingAces Post!

My first WeddingAces contribution was posted today - go check out "All About Invitations"!!