Inspiration to Celebration: “Snow Sprinkle” Glamorous Blue and White Modern Baby Shower

A Winter Themed Glamorous Blue and White Modern Baby Shower

Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and the birds are chirping… It’s so wonderful to break out of the shell of winter and blossom under the warmth of the springtime sun! After my trip to New York last week for an amazing wedding (that I can’t wait to share!) I wasn’t so sure spring had actually sprung, with rain, sleet and snow flurries! But after returning back home to sunny San Diego, I feel it in my bones and on my face… And boy does it feel great!

With one last look back at our winter past, I wanted to share with you this ‘Snow Sprinkle’ baby shower that I designed for some wonderful friends of mine a few months back. We were also fortunate enough to have it featured on the magnificent Hostess Blog seen here!

For this wintertime welcome of two little angels we created a flurry of glittering snowflakes and raindrops for this ‘Snow Sprinkle’. This glamorous blue and white modern baby shower was a great way to combine the clean and stark feeling of winter white snow with the glitter and glam of shiny starflakes and snowballs.

Guest were welcomed to a “winter white” outdoor lounge area sprinkled with white lights and filled with modern lounge chairs draped with soft white netting & plush fur pillows.

Soft white baby’s breath and snowflake-like spider mums danced throughout the lounge in a mixture of modern and vintage glassware, while a framed sign reminded guests that “Snowflakes & Raindrops aren’t the only things falling from heaven…!

As guests entered the outdoor lounge, they were greeted by a vintage English pram offering them cozy pashminas and scarves with a sign that read “Borrow a Scarf to stay as cozy as a Baby in a Carriage”.

To keep guests cozy on the inside, we featured a Cocoa Bar complete with gourmet hot cocoa, homemade marshmallows and crystal decanters full of various liquors to spice up their drink. A sign reading ‘Sips & Nips to Keep You Warm’ was displayed on the cocoa bar next to the elegant silver urn.

Snowflake-topped stir sticks were featured in crackled glasses displayed on top of raised green glass risers for an icy looking presentation.

Chocolate moon pies, pumpkin pie pops (recipe here), sugared donuts and delicate snowflake sugar cookies were just some of delectable treats offered as dipping-worthy sidekicks for the cocoa.

We also made two different types of homemade marshmallows – pumpkin spice and one dipped in mint milk chocolate.

Chilled homemade Coquito (coconut eggnog) served in beautiful aqua glass decanters was the perfect “cool” complement for guest to enjoy with their hot and toasty s’mores…

Our ‘S’mores Station’ featured an outdoor firepit, roasting sticks sticks, homemade marshmallows, and the classic accouterments.

For a shower-worthy backdrop to the Cocoa Bar, we created a wall of cascading strips of hand dyed fabric in aquas and blues and hung strands of crystals to dance between the colors. For a light and fluffy snowball effect we created large flowerballs of baby’s breath and displayed them on tall elegant glass vases.”

Design, Coordination & Styling: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Invitation, Dessert Bar Tags and Signage: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Baked Goods & Desserts: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Lounge Furniture: Lounge Appeal
Photography: Katie Neal

Inspiration to Coloriztion: Inspiration for your Pink and Blue Wedding

Pink and Blue Wedding Inspiration

The clocks just sprang forward and spring is in the air. With it comes the exciting time when flowers and colors are back in bloom. The sleepy flora and fauna seem to yawn and stretch out its arms and blossom with life and color. With spring in mind I wanted to explore beautiful and striking inspirations for some of our most classic wedding hues.

Pink  Wedding

Pink is the color of universal love and good health. Pink is a quiet color. Lovers of beauty favor pink. A pink carnation means “I will never forget you”. Pink suggests softness, sweetness, innocence, youthfulness, tenderness, romance, nurturing, friendship, femininity, soft and kind people. Both red and pink denote love but while red is hot passion, pink is romantic and charming. Use pink to convey playfulness and tenderness which lends itself wonderfully for the romantic bride. Multiple shades of pink and light purple or other pastels used together maintain the soft, delicate, and playful nature of pink. Add strength with darker shades of pinks and purple and burgundy.

Blue Wedding

Blue is the coolest color - the color of the sky, ocean, sleep, twilight. The ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli to represent heaven  A pure blue is the color of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. Blue is often the chosen color by conservative people. Blue is the calming color. That makes it a wonderful color to use in the home, especially for babies. Blue is so soothing that is a good choice for pajamas. Dark blue is the color of truth and moderation. Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed which makes it a wonderful color to reflect the commitment of marriage. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.

In the spirit of a blue and pink wedding I wanted to indulge you all with these gorgeous blooms ranging from pastel pinks to periwinkles. Rich large pink peonies, architectural modern protea and whimsical blue tweedia are among some of my favorites.

Inspiration to Colorization: Inspiration for your Purple Wedding

Your Purple Wedding…

Dating back to 1600 BC, the color purple was derived from insects and shellfish to create rare and expensive dyes only afforded by the wealthy and royal, making it a natural choice to have a regal purple wedding. Legend credits its discovery to the Greek god Herakles, or rather to his dog, whose mouth was stained purple from chewing on snails along the Levantine coast. King Phoenix received a purple-dyed robe from Herakles and decreed the rulers of Phoenicia should wear this color as a royal symbol.

The color purple definitely embodies the feeling of royalty in addition to being a spiritual and calming hue. With so many ways to translate this warm and vibrant color, its a wonderful and fashionable choice to have purple wedding. The complimentary color for purple is green which helps to ground it and even show its shades in a brighter and truer light. From plum and emerald to periwinkle and sage, a purple wedding could be translated into a soft summer wedding or a bold fall fete.

It’s no secret that I am inspired by gorgeous architecture, interior design and fashion for events and weddings that I design. I refuse to peruse the same outlets of inspiration as every other bride, and by doing this, this is how I pride myself with outside of the wedding box ideas. From these gorgeous images below I see inspiration for invitation graphics from the molding and ornaments on the walls, dip-dyed purple napkins and color combinations of indigo, gold, lilac and grassy greens. What could you take from these images to bring into your purple wedding?

Photos courtesy of Vogue Living, The Paris Apartment, Enolagaye.

Registration to Celebration: Modern Wedding Registration with Diane Von Furstenberg for Bloomingdale’s

Modern Wedding Registration for the Bold Bride

Since the first time I tied the sash on one of my Diane Von Furstenberg signature wrap dresses, I knew we had started the beginning of long and loving relationship. Since then, she has always held a special little place in my design obsessed heart,  and a special big place in my closet. I have always been in love with her sense of style and panache, but never as much as I have been of late after seeing her Home Collection for Bloomingdale’s. Without apology, Diane snuck into my mind and has stolen all of my favorite colors, textures, shapes and materials and created a bold and playful home collection that modern brides have been dreaming of. From colorful patterns inspired by such artists as Miro, Japanese folk art, and Tahitian batik prints, these vibrant pieces bring a new meaning to ‘table art’. Modern wedding registrations have never looked so good.

I have never been more envious of brides-to-be than I am of the brides of the moment for one reason: to register for Diane’s collection at Bloomingdales!

If you have been looking for a modern wedding registration that fits your fashionable sense of style, look no further.