Yellow and Gray Wedding: A Modern, Fun Inspiration Board

Happy, fun, fresh. These are all adjectives that spring to mind when I think of the color yellow. Although I think a yellow and gray palette could fit many different types of weddings: indoor/outdoor, traditional, rustic, vintage, a modern aesthetic with clean lines and a fresh, whimsical appeal is what spoke to me today.

Mood: Sipping lemonade after you've exhausted yourself laughing.

Color Palette: Lemon yellow and pewter gray

The Credits, Deets, and Maybe Where to Buy Them:

Bridesmaids in Yellow and Gray by Chloe Murdoch for Mike Larson Photography via Style Me Pretty, Gray Bridesmaid Dress via Once Wed, Yellow and Gray Pinwheels by Etsy Seller ElizabethSt, Yellow Tie and Gray Vested Groom by Rebekah Westover Photography via Duet Letterpress, Yellow and Gray Clutch by Etsy Seller PaperFlora, Yellow and Gray Banner by Etsy Seller liddabits, Balsa Wood and Billy Ball Centerpiece via BridalHood.blogspot.com, Sweet Little Daisies Cake via Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Couple and Yellow Balloon by Ampersand Studios via Soiree Boise

Enchanted Forest Themed Wedding

The woods: there's something about trees lit by tiny lights that speaks to the magic-hungry little girl inside all of us. I wanted to tap into that glittering fairy tale world nestled deep in our psyches in a way that could be easily translated into wedding decor without being overtly kitschy. With the right centerpieces and a few decor items spaced throughout, any outdoor space with lots of trees--or even a properly lighted tent!--could be transformed into an enchanted forest setting. Check out a little something extra for some ideas on where to purchase some DIY materials.

Mood: Enchantment under the trees

Color Palette: moss green, wood brown, gold, candlelight

Artifacts of Inspiration: Fairy tales, fireflies, the forest

The Deets, Credits and Maybe Where to Buy Them:

Candle Holder Decor by Tricia Fountaine Design, Butterfly Grapevine Ball via Style Me Pretty, Enchanted Forest Centerpiece by Tricia Fountaine Design, Candlelit Trees via Design Indulgences, Wood Placecards via I Do It Yourself, Moss Chair by Jasmine Star via Style Me Pretty, Lighted Branches via My Cleveland Wedding, Firefly Mason Jar via fightingsharks.blogspot.com

A Little Something Extra:

Save-on-crafts.com has become my new BFF as I help plan the decor for my sister's wedding, but I'm sure you could find similar items at other craft stores. A little creativity, time, and some of the items below, and I think the above inspiration board is totally DIY-able.

The gorgeous lighted branches run about $10 to $16 at http://www.save-on-crafts.com/li3.html.

I always wondered how so many crafty people got lights inside grapevine balls without having them attached to a Christmas light string: LED battery powered strings. From what I've seen, they run about $11 for four feet. You could stick them inside mason jars alone, or add moss from a craft store like so:

The moss could also be used to cover wood slabs to create centerpieces like this lovely number via gourmetinvitations.blogspot.com:

Short on time or craftiness? I found them for purchase on--of course!--Etsy by seller simplykacie here.

Alice in Wonderland Inspiration Board

There are so many things I love about the different versions of  Alice in Wonderland: the Victorian aesthetic of the original book's engravings, the happy sweetness of the Disney version, and Tim Burton's lush imagery, the sense of wonder and whimsy without the sugary pastels. For decor, you could use either real or print cut-outs of clocks, antique books, skeleton key place cards, and trees hung with teaspoons and playing cards. Flowers bursting from teacups and teapots could serve as centerpieces. A dessert table of little cakes and heart shaped tarts begs for tags reading "Eat Me." Check out the deets below for more info on where to buy!

Mood: Magic and whimsy meet vintage garden party

Color Palette: Periwinkle blue, black, dark pink, brass, accented with shades of brown

The Deets, Credits, and Maybe Where to Buy Them:

Skeleton Key Place Cards by Raw Photo Design via Style Me Pretty, Lazaro Bridesmaid Dress, Tree Decor from allthebeautifulthings by Loreta, Drink Me Tags by Etsy Seller AnistaDesigns, Teacup Centerpiece from Events by Heather Ham, White Rabbit Thank You Card by Etsy Seller AnistaDesigns, Antique Book, Teacup, and Clock Centerpiece by Three Nails Photography via Green Wedding Shoes, Croquet Set by Jessica Feely via Love and Lavender, Alice in Wonderland Decor by Alicia of Bows and Arrows via Marry You Me, Eat Me Toppers by Etsy Seller AnistaDesigns, Alice in Wonderland Chair by Sarah Maren Photography via Style Me Pretty

Inspiration Board #8: Traditional Whimsy for Cristin

With a color palette of deep purple, silver, and powder blue, Cristin's wedding is a delightful mix of traditional and whimsical. While still maintaining the elegance of a more traditional fete, like her pretty centerpieces of tulips or roses submerged in cylinder vases of different heights, topped with floating candles, she added fun twists like groomsmen wearing chucks and no jackets, and paper lanterns that create a festive feel.

Mood: Traditional pretty with a wink and a hip wiggle

Color Palette: Deep purple, silver, accents of Tiffany blue

The Deets, Credits, and Maybe Where to Buy Them: Deep Purple Infinity Dress from Etsy seller Dalina, Purple, Silver, and Blue Invitation from Etsy Seller Beacon Lane, Cylinder Vases from scarletpetal.typepad.com, Spring Bouquet from brocadedesigns.typepad.com, Purple Ring Pillow via The Knot, Satin Flower Embellished Clutch from Etsy Seller Parisxox, Chuck Taylors and Argyle Socks courtesy libbyjames.wordpress.com, Amethyst and Silver Necklace from Etsy Seller ANORIGINALJEWELRY, Silver Favor Boxes courtesy The Finer Things, Groomsmen by Ryan Price Photography via Ruffledblog.com, Purple and Silver Lanterns via thelandlockedbride.com

Check out these uber cheap cylinder vases from The Dollar Tree online! http://www.dollartree.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=cylinder+vases&x=0&y=0

Inspiration Board #4: Amelie's Carnival Wedding

Apparently I'm on a movie kick, and what romantic adventure could I choose for a wedding board that's sweeter or more magical than "Amelie"? No, seriously. If you can think of one, I want to watch it and obsessively google about it. I think Amelie would swoon over a carnival themed wedding with French garden touches. Although I'm sure she'd love the idea of a ferris wheel and character actors, she's working with a cafe server salary and her fiance works in a porn shop--but that doesn't mean her wedding can't be kick-ass gorgeous. I imagined her wedding at a charming ranch house, decorated with antique, carnival-style parasols hung from the trees, a DIY photo booth, and tea tin centerpieces. Girl loves her cardigans and creme brulee, so I couldn't leave those out. Cute gnome cake toppers and DIY carnival ticket invitations add that sense of fun while luminary bags provide a (cheap!) romantic ambiance as the sun goes down.

Mood: Fabulous destiny plays out amidst carnival magic

Color Palette: Red, warm yellows, antique glass bottle green, cobalt blue touches

Artifacts of Inspiration: "Amelie", Toulouse Lautrec, Provence gardens, Yann Tiersen, county fair carnivals

The Inspiration Deets, Credits, and Maybe Where to Find Them:

Awesome DIY carnival invitations from Kelly Prizel, Gnome Cake Toppers from PhenomeGNOME, Creme Brulee, Parasol Decor Photo by Gabriel Ryan Photographers via Green Wedding Shoes, Poppy Bouquet via Yumsugar.com, First Kiss, LumaBase luminary bags with tutorial from http://wheatblossom.blogspot.com, DIY photo booth courtesy of Jagger Photography, Tea Tin Centerpieces from Ruffledblog, The Beautiful Flying Caballos Ranch, Supersweet Cardigan via Cameron Ingalls Photography