Getaway + a few New England pretties

I'm heading out of town today for a fun, two-part getaway! First up is a road trip to Canton, Texas, for a First Monday experience {for those of you unfamiliar, it's a huge flea market notorious for unique and fabulous finds. My Mom used to go when she was younger so I'm really looking forward to sharing this experience with her!} Next, I'm heading over to the Carolinas to see some old and dear friends ... and I just can't wait! I'm sad to say that I'll have limited internet access until around mid-May but I'll try to drop in as often as I can to share some wedding inspiration and maybe a few flea-market finds! :o)

I thought I'd leave you with some pretty places I recently came across that are also dreamy for a wedding. Enjoy:

The Wauwinet in Nantucket

The White Elephant in Nantucket

The Boathouse in Edgartown, Mass.

Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Mass.

ps. Hop over to the Maida Vale blog this Friday for a fun giveaway spotlighting a lovely pair of handcrafted earrings - perfect for a 'little something blue'! And I promise to have a few jaw-dropping giveaways on Classic Bride when I return ... so stay tuned! ;o)

{Images 1-4: found on Well Wed}

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Social Circle

Classic Bride is now offering a new type of sponsorship! You will soon be seeing 'Featured Sponsors' on the right-hand sidebar of CB. More to come on that later.

Anne over at Perfect Bound unveiled a brand new look this week! Take a look!

The Wedding Outlet is having a sale now though Monday. Enter coupon code APRILSHOWERS at checkout and receive 10% off your entire order!

Laura from Brides.com shared this fun link with me - follow it to view a Sketch-to-Dress feature. I love the idea of having a sketch of your wedding day dress!

Have any of you seen the new bi-annual Weddings by Ritz-Carlton magazine? It's now available for all guests and all brides- and grooms-to-be who inquire about weddings and honeymoon packages at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Sounds promising!

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Interior design = Wedding inspiration

Yum. I am so smitten with this sweet room. And I love the idea of building a spring wedding around this chipper color palette of pale periwinkle, crisp white and sunny golds.

If you're having a tough time deciding on a color palette, try flipping through a design magazine {some of my favorites are Southern Accents, Domino ;o(, Country Living and New England Home}. The design styles you gravitate toward will probably share some cohesive themes and colors. Tear out pages that speak to you and then look for similarities. You may come away with a new idea for renovating your kitchen or a perfect new wedding palette.

{Image found here}

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Literary love

Love, love, love the glammed-up geek chic of this Sweet Library Love inspiration board! For all the details, head over here and while you're there, stick around for a bit - betsywhite is loaded with beautiful stationery designs and products!

{Isn't that the sweetest typewriter ever??? Love the idea of having guests type sweet notes whether the event is literary-inspired or not.}

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Life imitates art ...

I came across this vintage-styled editorial shoot by Kellan Studios and was instantly taken back to a scene from one of my favorite movies ...

Anyone agree?

Wouldn't it be serious fun to choose a shared favorite film between you and your guy and give your engagement shoot a 'theme' with lots of costume changes and props??? What movie would you choose?

{Images: 1: found here; 2: googled image}

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Guestbook + pen set giveaway!

I love the clean lines of this guest book and the lovely personalized engraving plate - perfect for displaying a couple's name and event date. This custom feature also makes the book great for any pre/post wedding event!

If you'd like to win this beautiful Simply Satin Guest book, just visit The Wedding Outlet and choose a pen set you think would go best with the guest book. In the comments section below, tell us which pen set you chose and why you think the two compliment each other. Three lucky winners will receive their chosen set!

Please make sure to include a valid e-mail address with your comment so we have a way of contacting you! The contest will run until May 1 at midnight CST and the winners will be announced on Monday, May 4. This contest is limited to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

p.s. Also, make sure to check out The Wedding Outlet's new TGFI sale {Today's Great Featured Item} every Friday. No code is necessary and the item will already be discounted.

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Itching for a second honeymoon ...

With the temperatures rising and the sunshine peeking through the clouds, I'm feeling an itch to plan a little getaway ... perhaps a second honeymoon? ;o) I thought it would be fun to shop around online to find a few new must-haves for a honeymoon/hiatus:


I love the instant glam emitted by this shimmery gold passport cover. Could be a fun bridesmaids gift, too.

Simple, solid colors {like the ones above} tend to be my go-to when shopping for clothes and I love adding bright, cheerful colors with accessories ... which is why I am loving these Turquoise stone thongs by Mystique from Cerulean {below}. I just ordered my own pair and wearing them already makes me feel like I'm on a tropical vacation!

Love the classic straw hat for sunny days and the idea of adding a nautical touch to your key ring:

Wraps always prove to be a necessity for me {I'm always freezing!}. Loving this coral-colored one:

Now I just need to decide where to jet off to! Any suggestions? :o)

{Images: 1+5: Kate Spade; 2, 4 +6: J. Crew; 3: Cerulean}

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Social circle

Wedding Style Guide has gone digital! Pick up back issues for as little as $3.50 U.S.!

Journal of a Beach House bride shared the cutest idea for a darling getaway car!

Wedding Paper Divas is running a special on their William Arthur Letterpress and Thermography designs! If you purchase 75 of a William Arthur stationery, you get 25 of the same product for free. Therefore, if you need 100 wedding invitations, you only order 75 and get 25 for free! This works with all William Arthur offerings. To see more, check out the details here.

Chelsea posted the sweetest vintage picnic basket I've ever seen. Love the idea of bringing it along on the honeymoon for a few intimate meals together.

Wedding Mapper is unveiling a redesign featuring brighter colors (think lime green, bright pink, and navy), better navigation throughout, and will be easier for couples to connect with engaged couples, newlyweds and vendors in their local wedding area. Stay tuned!

MagnetStreet Weddings is giving away 150 free Save the Dates through April 19. Read the details here.

DailyCandy recently launched DailyCandy Weddings! Looking forward to seeing what they have in store!

{Image via Wedding Style Guide}

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Q+A with Samantha Goldberg

I'm sure many of you are familiar with Samantha Goldberg from the Style Network’s series, Whose Wedding Is it Anyway? and I am so excited to share with you this exclusive Q+A with Samantha!

Sam is currently teaming up with the Hilton Family to debut a new wedding planning Web site called Guestiquette, which includes information on tricky etiquette topics, tips on making OOT guests feel at home, guidance on working with a hotel and a great booking tool to manage guest hotel accommodations online. So, if you're just starting to look into hotels for your guests, check this out! I promise it will make the process that much easier!

Classic Bride: What are your ultimate top five ways to save while planning a wedding?
Samantha Goldberg: First, book and manage your wedding room block online with Hilton Family’s easy tool to save time spent calling hotels during work hours. Second, plan your wedding during an off-peak time like Sunday to lower the cost. Third, ask talented friends to “gift” you your wedding services (flowers, photography, etc.) Fourth, look for more inexpensive dress options. Don’t be afraid to buy the dress right off the rack or even rent your gown (a great way to wear the designer dress of your dreams, without the hefty price!) Also, keep an eye out for trunk sales from your favorite designer which can save you 50-70% off retail (this can also be a great way for bridesmaids to get a great deal on their dress) And finally, consider a destination wedding with fewer guests that also serves as your honeymoon.

CB: If a bride and groom want to ask talented friends to “gift” them wedding services (flowers, photography, etc.), what is an appropriate and polite way to broach the question?
SG: First, think through who your “talented” friends are and match them with the wedding service you’d ideally like them to assist with. It’s a good idea to start with your closest set of friends, since they probably serve as your informal wedding consultants anyway! A good way to broach the topic is to begin by paying them a compliment on their talents, such as “I really admire how wonderful your photography skills are …” and transitioning into the topic of your wedding. Also remember to always give your friends an out when you ask the question, to avoid any awkwardness or guilt on their part if they can’t accommodate you.

CB: What are some of the extra services that hotels provide for guests that are often overlooked?
SG: Hotels such as the Hilton Family, offer an online group booking tool that allows you to reserve a block of rooms for your guests, use a guest list manager tool to track reservations that have been made and create a personalized webpage to send out to your guests so they can easily book online. The best part is that you can do it all online, 24/7, in your pajamas, and you don’t have to worry about calling your hotel because once you make your reservation online, your hotel representative will reach out to you!

Also, regarding ground transportation from hotels to the wedding ceremony/reception, you may find that certain hotels provide free shuttle transportation service to and from venues that are close by. Definitely, put this subject on your list of questions to ask your hotel.

Thanks, Samantha!

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Who doesn't love macaroons?

Loving these for an old-school Valentine's Day wedding {or any wedding with a red + white theme!}.

{Image: Tartelette - stop by for loads more eye candy and yummy recipes}

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Another French daydream

When I first laid eyes upon this dreamy French abode, all I could imagine was how romantic it would be to exchange vows on that luscious lawn ... isn't the framed landscaping just begging for a wedding?

Lately, I keep thinking how fantastically fun a surprise wedding would be and I love to imagine bringing all of your friends and family to a little French cottage like this {an Italian villa or Swiss chateau would be just as charming, too!} and treating them to a celebration of life with the grand finale spotlighting a new marriage.

If you had the surprise ceremony beneath the moonlight, I love the idea of dotting tables with vases like the ones above with dripping candles. So decadent.

These sweet containers would also be great scattered among the premises during the afternoon to refresh guests.

What other details do you imagine for such a wedding?

{Images: 1+2: found here via Veranda; 3: Country French Antiques; 4: Pottery Barn}

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Margaret Elizabeth jewelry

I'm so glad I discovered Meg's gorgeous jewelry designs - a great fit for the modern yet traditional bride! Hop over to Margaret Elizabeth to see for yourself! I was so smitten with Meg's stunning designs that I ordered the Faceted Green Chalcedony necklace below:

Meg works with brides all over the country to design custom jewelry for themselves, their bridesmaids, and their flower girls. The jewelry is made to match the signature style of the bride and can also be a gift that bridesmaids and flower girls can wear forever.

Remember this post on Angelina Jolie's color-popping emeralds? Copy the look with these Mystic Quartz Drops that could also double as your Something Blue on your big day:

I also love these fun dangly pearls for a bride:

Continuing with my lavender kick, I love the piece below for a bridesmaid. I'm imagining a very simple raw silk dress in a creamy champagne color with the kick of color coming from this Amethyst & Gold Briollete necklace:

*SP

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Missy Photography Contest WINNER!

Exciting announcement just in! We have the winner of the Missy Photography contest! Without further ado, I'll turn it over to Missy:

I want to thank everyone so much for taking the time to enter my contest. I was touched with all the lovely stories and kind words. It was a really tough decision, but I decided to go with KASIA AND DAVID (from Chicago), and here's why:

These two are going to have an undeniably stunning wedding, from the venue to the themes, but what struck me more was who they were as people. Both have devoted their adult lives to helping others, which includes their 'love story' which developed while they were in the Peace Corps in Africa. Their wedding day is going to be such an interesting mixture of themselves and of their experiences in the countries that helped mold them as individuals and a couple. With all their good deeds and selflessness, I think we can all agree they deserve to receive one back. I am thrilled to work with them.

Congrats, Kasia and David! And a big thanks to Missy for offering such a fabulous contest!

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Boudoir alternative

Boudoir sessions may be right for some brides but the images below seem just as sensual {imho} and I like that you wouldn't have to worry about your grandparents stealing a glimpse*:

If you and your fiance have a little pet, I love the idea of including them in the shoot for some tender images like the one above with Audrey Hepburn. What groom-to-be wouldn't adore some photos of his two loves?

If you dance, why not incorporate your talent into the shoot like these fun photos taken on the Brooklyn Bridge? The one below reminds me of a past J. Crew campaign. Love the pops of color.

This close shot seems so personal and revealing in an extremely intimate way without being overtly provocative. So beautiful.

If you're into fashion, photo styling or even acting, why not incorporate some theatrics into your shoot? I love the drama in the two below:

*I should note that I've come to understand and fully appreciate the body as an artform {having grown up in Europe definitely aided with that} and I agree that there are certainly some artists and photographers who are able to capture a sophisticated and refined elegance with the nude form. However, those talented souls seem to be few and far between and the trend of boudoir sessions seems to be {alarmingly} on the rise. I felt compelled to offer a more conservative take on the trend to those brides who may be on the fence. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

{Images: 1: Perry Ogden photo via This is Glamorous; 2: Audrey Hepburn found here; 3+4: Candice Stringham photos via Peonies and Polaroids; 5: Audrey Tautou found here; 6: Tim Walker photo; 7: Rodney Smith photo}

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Palette: Lavender + Cream

The last time I remember being a fan of purple hues was when I was about 6 or 7 and a splash of pink couldn't be too far away or it was like cookies with no milk.

Well, I've rekindled an old flame and am currently embracing all shades of lavender {I'll save pink for another day}. I just can't stop thinking about a lavender and cream wedding palette ... Love the idea of placing sugared violets and pansies atop buttercream-frosted cupcakes. Here's a few more images that I found inspiring:

Love, love, love the idea of incorporating an actual wall color into your palette. If that's too difficult, invest in recovering a French antique chair or two in your signature color -- they could be placed at the sweetheart table and be used in couples' portraits indoors or out.

Hydrangeas may be an untraditional choice in hair decor but there is something compelling about the way this is done. Dare I say avant garde? I think for a very hip and modern wedding {simple slip dress + a heaping dose of confidence}, this could work and possibly even set a trend. Who's going to be first??

{Images: 1: found here via the Food Network ;2: (oh so) beautiful paper ;3: Material Girls 4: lobster and swan}

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A modern fairytale

Loving these modern fairytale-inspired images by Emily Nathan {check out her portfolio for more fun images}. The premise could be a fun spin for an engagement shoot ... anyone do/doing anything similar?

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Contest reminder: Missy photography

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for the Missy Photography contest is soon approaching! You have until April 9th to submit your entry. Below is a re-cap of the contest as well as some super adorable photos from one of Melissa's most recent engagement shoots. For the original post on the contest {and examples of Melissa's stunning wedding photography}, go here.

Contest Re-cap:
Melissa Murphy, of Missy Photography, is looking for a fun, artsy and original bride and groom who will inspire her with their location, design details, and funky and fresh ideas! This doesn't mean the wedding needs to be somewhere exotic - just that the location is fabulous and visually interesting. It can be beautiful, rustic, gritty, classic, charming, unconventional or even bizarre!

Here are the details:
Wedding to take place from June 2009 - November 2010(As long as it is an available date for Melissa)

Missy Photography provides:
Complete Wedding Day coverage with Melissa
Fun and creative day after shoot (optional)
Digital images six months after the wedding date
Online picture viewing one month after the wedding date

Bride & Groom provides:
Travel expenses to/from New York City to your desired venue/location for Melissa (Associate photographer available with additional ticket if desired. Recommended for weddings with over 150 guests)
Hotel for 3 nights
Airport transfers
Rental Car (if needed)

To Enter:
Send a detailed description of your wedding location and design ideas. If you have any photos or a website/blog, make sure you include that, as well. The more you provide, the better. Also, send a few photos of you and your fiance! If you are still narrowing down your location choices - send in your finalists with more details on your plans. Don't forget your names, date of wedding, and your contact information.

Deadline:
April 9th, 2009

Send entries to:
Melissa@missyphotography.com and cc’d to theclassicbride@gmail.com

Subject line should read: Classic Bride Photography Contest.

Some added notes:
This is not a contest based on need. This is a contest based on design. So make sure to include all the fun and quirky ideas you have for your big day!

Restrictions:
If you already have booked a photographer or an event planner - please do not enter. We do not want to undermine anyone's business.

{Click here for the original post on the contest!}

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{Day}dream come true: Loire Valley wedding

Remember when I daydreamed about a French countryside wedding?
No? Here's a quick re-cap of my little dream:
I know it's possible to rent out homes, mansions and castles for European dream weddings (which is a truly magnificent idea) but I can't help to think how ridiculously cool it would be to have your own little summer nest tucked away in the Provence - You could invite a handful of close friends and family for a short stay and surprise them with a low-key ceremony at the end of the week followed with dinner and dancing!

Well, I now have visuals to go along with that splendid dream:

I stumbled upon this beautiful wedding on Elizabeth Messina's portfolio and was instantly smitten {to see more, go here, click on portfolio, then nuptials, then France}. The bride looked so familiar to me and after a little research, I realized that the photos were from the 2007 marriage of Jeri Ryan and Christophe Eme.

Below are all the wonderful details, from People.com:
{Originally posted on People.com on Monday June 18, 2007}

Jeri Ryan married French chef Christophe Eme in the French countryside over the weekend, her rep confirms exclusively to PEOPLE.

"There was so much love in the air," says wedding planner Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming! event production. "They are so happy together."

Ryan, 39, who stars in CBS's legal drama Shark, wore a Vera Wang gown as she and Eme, 37, exchanged vows Saturday in a castle in Eme's hometown outside Angers in the Loire Valley.

"It's breathtakingly beautiful," Ryan told PEOPLE in November of the wedding venue. "I pulled in and just started crying."

The couple had stayed at the 16th-century manor Logis-de-Poellier along with 30 of Ryan's relatives, including her parents, son Alex, 12, and an aunt and uncle, according to Poellier's owner, Marie Francois Jourdrin.

All told, there were about 120 guests for the ceremony, which was held in the garden in front of the 15th-century Chateau de Noirieux.

An all-night party followed the ceremony, with breakfast at Poellier, according to Jourdrin, who said she wasn't the least bit intimidated about having to cook all week for a famous chef.

"Christophe and Jeri are very wonderful, simple people," she said. "This morning he came into the kitchen and started making traditional French onion soup for his friends."

The couple, who co-own the Los Angeles restaurant Ortolan, where Eme is executive chef, met in 2003 when Ryan's friend introduced them at a charity event. "I've always had a thing for chefs and I've always had a thing for the French," Ryan told PEOPLE, "but I just thought we would go out a few times."

Eme proposed in March 2006 with a painted mural that included the Robert Browning poem "Grow Old Along With Me."

{all photos from Elizabeth Messina}

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Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to Jane, of Wedding Style Guide, for her most kind words regarding the recent feature of our wedding as well as my calligraphy! {btw, I definitely recommend spending a bit of time on WSG's blog - it is brimming with beautiful wedding inspiration!}

ps. I also made the Contents page in the magazine {above}! Can you spot me? ;o) And aren't those outdoor tables divine? If you missed it, see our full feature here.

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Vintage jadite

Jadite may just be my second favorite type of vintage glassware {milk glass is tough to beat!}. I have several heirloom jadite dishes and bowls stocked in the kitchen and adore them to pieces ... I was using one today and suddenly thought how charming they would be for a spring or summer wedding.

I think Jadite would be especially fitting for a seaside wedding, as the coloring and translucency reminds me of seaglass swept on the shore. I love imagining a long table with a row of jadite vases and bowls overflowing with lush white peonies!

They'd also be perfect for use at a farewell brunch with guests {and, of course, for many yummy breakfasts to follow, long after the wedding celebration is over!}.

And, finally, I love this grouping of jadite cake stands! Perfect for a cluster of sweets at a reception.

Are you planning/planned on using Jadite in your wedding?

{Images: 1+3 The Pioneer Woman ;2 Lula Boutique ;4 Jenni Simmon's flickr; 5 REfreshments}

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