Now offering e-Design services

Google Does Weddings?

Google and Style Me Pretty have teamed up to offer a complete wedding planning manual as part of Google Docs. Brides can use templates to plan out their budgets, produce guest lists, maintain RSVP lists, make seating charts and even put together a wedding album after the big day. So what do you think? Will you be using Google’s wedding templates to plan your big day?
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Check out the rest of the wedding templates here

angela and evan, kirsten and mike

The details from this recent wedding at Sodo Park are absolutely divine and matched only by Angela and Evan’s gorgeous photography.  See the rest of the pictures here













Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part III

The reception tables were covered in taupe linens and the centerpieces were loose arrangements in mason jars and milk glass of roses, dahlias, hypericum, stock, queen anne’s lace, dusty miller and lisianthus accented with wild turkey feathers collected on the ranch and placed on vintage lace doilies.

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The napkins were held with craft paper napkin rings and the favors were small vintage fabric covered pots of local honey.

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Cafe lights strung from old farm tools supported in hay bales and covered with bougainvillea set the mood and created a cozy atmosphere despite warnings from the father of the bride not to wander off for fear of mountain lions. We filled a wheelbarrow to the brim with flowers and vintage lace-covered saddles and antique white candelabras decorated the cocktail patio and dance floor inside the house. White Mexican cutout flags personalized with the bride and groom’s names added a nice touch.

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Guests found their table assignments from escort cards displayed on wire between hundreds of pictures of Jenny and Jeff’s families and large arrangements of flowers (with olive branches and persimmons picked from the ranch) in vintage silver and milk glass graced the buffet of BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, corn bread and salad.

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Guests finished off the evening salsa dancing in the candlelit living room. It was a magical night!

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*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part II

Jenny accented her vintage style Nicole Miller gown with a feather fascinator and mesh veil, red lipstick and gold heels.
Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010

Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010

Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010She carried a bouquet of dahlias, scabiosa, stock, sedum, lisianthus, cool water roses, David Austin roses and dusty miller in shades of silver, purple and pink.

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Jeff wore a grey pin-striped suit and wore a boutonniere of pink lisianthus accented with green olives I picked from the reception site that morning.

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The two attendants (the bride and groom’s sisters respectively) wore taupe and mauve dresses from J.Crew and carried smaller versions of Jenny’s bouquet and ring pillows that were passed around to each guest during the ceremony to be blessed.

Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010
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Guests tossed dried lavender as proceeded back up the aisle and then were bussed up through the hay fields to the main house for the reception. Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010

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*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part I

This is hands down one of the most beautiful weddings that I’ve had the pleasure to work on. In part due to the gorgeous setting, in part due to the amazing flowers I was able to get my hands on down in San Francisco (cafe au lait dahlias! persimmons on the branch!) and in part because the bride, one of my closest friends from college, is one of the most stylish people I’ve ever met.  This post will have three parts because I just couldn’t narrow down the number of pictures that I wanted to share! 

Jenny and Jeff’s wedding took place on Jenny’s grandmother’s 350 acre ranch in Sonoma County, just outside of Healdsburg. The ceremony was held on the lawn of the caretaker’s cottage overlooking fields ripe with hay and emerald vineyards lining the hillsides in all directions. White flags rippled in the wind, lace patterned lanterns danced from the tree branches and the sun beat down on a crowd anxious to witness the marriage of this long-time couple.
Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010

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Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010

Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010
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Maacama Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010
*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

In love: Miss Pickering

I recently stumbled across a blog written by an English florist, Simone Pickering and I am smitten. Miss Pickering, as she is more commonly known, is the owner of a “floral emporium” in Stamford and writes daily about her exploits with “the hound.”

By way of introduction her website states that,

“When not working Miss P likes to cook and wear slutty shoes.
The Hound is the resident shop dog.
He likes to greet customers, sleep, and eat roast chicken.
He loves Lily of the valley.
He hates gerbera.”

Her work is stunning, her wit pronounced and her English-ness undeniable. A daily dose of her blog is sure to amuse and inspire and serves to make this English designer a little less homesick.image imageimage image

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Miss P’s blog:
http://misspickering.blogspot.com/
The Hound’s blog:
http://www.shop-dog.blogspot.com/

Abbie and Matt


Palette: Lavender, plum and sage green
Theme: vintage, rustic, whimsical
Location: Golden Gardens, Seattle
Date: June, 2011

DIY Pumpkins from Twig & Thistle

As a Brit who didn’t grow up celebrating Halloween, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to get into the ghostly spirit beloved of my friends and neighbors. After an unfortunate incident in college involving a large pumpkin and a broken car windshield, I had sworn off that particular squash for life…that is, until I saw these gorgeous pumpkins from Kathleen at Twig and Thistle. I think these would work equally well for Thanksgiving dinner or a holiday party. Click here to see more of Kathleen’s fun ideas.

DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders for BHG
October 22nd, 2010





I shared my third project for the Better Homes & Gardens contest yesterday and today I have all the materials and instructions you’ll need to make your own. With just a few simple steps, you can make any foam gourd into a pretty and natural looking fall accessory. Have fun!

Supplies
Styrofoam Pumpkin
Candle
Drill
Hole Saw Attachment for drill (found at hardware stores)
Craft Glue
Glitter

Instructions
Determine the width of the candle and make sure the hole saw is just slightly larger. Remove the stem and locate the center on top of the pumpkin. With the pumpkin firmly secure, center the hole cutting attachment above the pumpkin and slowly drill out the center. It may help to have someone hold the pumpkin steady while you drill. Once center is cut, you’ll need to carve out the foam with a knife. Continue the process until you have desired depth.
Once the hole is cut, coat entire pumpkin in craft glue. Generously cover with colored glitter and let dry. Once glitter is dry and to prevent glitter from flaking off, spray with a bit of hairspray to set.
Use non-drip candles (typically the wide candles don’t) or if you’re using tea-lights, opt for ones that have a plastic or metal cup so that wax doesn’t get into pumpkin. Place candle inside and light!

*As with all flammables, be mindful and keep a watchful eye.

Sneak Peek: NonPareil Photo Shoot

I spent Sunday out on Bainbridge Island styling a photo shoot for NonPareil Magazine with Angela and Evan Photography. We got very lucky with the October weather and had a great time working with the “Farm to Table” theme concocted by Kathleen at Twig and Thistle.  If you haven’t had a chance to check out NonPareil yet, do so immediately! It’s an extremely stylish online magazine filled to the brim with DIY projects for weddings and events.  I was thrilled to be part of their invitation-only winter issue and can’t wait to share my behind-the-scenes pictures when the article is published in December.
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Methow Meadows

We're just home from a sweet destination wedding in Mazama, WA in the Methow Valley. After the whirlwind that is/was August, it was so wonderful to get in a car filled with herbs and lavender and drive four hours through snow capped mountai

ns, turquoise lakes, meadows with tumbledown barns, and pine forests with my husband/assistant-for-the-weekend by my side. It was a magical location (made better by my dream team of Seattle wedding vendors – Chantal Andrea Photography, La Happy AND Kerissa Bakes!) picked by a fun-loving DIY obsessed couple and 30 of their closest friends and family. After working with Serena and Mark to plan and design this wedding over the last year, it was a true pleasure and an honor to finally see them exchange vows and experience in person the wonder that is the Methow Valley (or as Serena described it – her “happy place.”)

Here's a teaser image from Chantal followed by a couple of mine. Can't wait to share more details (wildflowers! birch bark! s'mores bar!) with you soon!

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