Photographer Samm Blake – Annabel & Matthew’s Wedding

Even though this is indeed a wedding blog, I seldom highlight real weddings. However, from time to time I come across a wedding, other than ones I have designed, that I truly admire and feel the need to share. The weddings that I do feature are not only chosen because of the details, but because of the photography, as well. You can have the best details in the world but if you have a mediocre photographer, it really would not matter if your details were made of gold. In this case, the photography caught my attention and then the details of the wedding followed suit.

I contacted Samm Blake, a wedding and portrait photographer in Australia, and asked if she would allow me to share Annabel and Matthew’s wedding day with you. To my delight, she was more than happy to. I don’t know much about Samm Blake other than she is based in Melbourne and is one heck of a photographer. Intrigued by her work, I lingered on her site to see more and was not disappointed. I am officially a fan.

Although Samm shot some of the wedding in black and white, I chose to focus on the colored photos…although I might just slip a black and white beauty in! In my opinion, all of the images are beautiful. My favorite image is the one of the yellow flower printed skirt with the back of a bridesmaid’s shoe. It reminds me of  the female characters in Mad Men. So chic! Enjoy the images! Thank you Samm for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!

Photos courtesy of Samm Blake Photography

Haute Hippie Spring 2012 Collection

Is there such a thing as being a Haute Hippie? Well of course. When I think of a “haute hippie” one fashion icon comes to mind immediately…Nicole Richie. She has taken the hippie style of dressing and made it haute….but this isn’t about Ms. Richie. I just wanted to set the stage for the line I’m about to share with you just in case you couldn’t picture a haute hippie. Need another? Chloë Sevigny occasionally fits that bill, too.

Back to the program…

The Haute Hippie brand has really laid the romance factor on thick this season with lace, chiffon, silk, and floor skimming skirts. The line takes you from Paris, to Provence, and then Morocco all mixing to create a bohemian collection of lovelies. Add a few throwback silhouettes from the 70’s and with lovely embellishments and you have a boss {60’s hippie slang for “cool”} spring collection for the modern boho trendsetter.

{Haute Hippie}

{inspiration board #74} An Elegant Affair

Many of my favorite things make up this wonderfully elegant board. I love the instance appearance and sense of grace when one wears a beautiful shoulder bearing dress, and anyone who has ever visited my humble blog knows that my preferred palette pleasers are pears and French macarons. I have a love of ornate and grand doors and recently I have thought myself a connoisseur of vintage doorknob. Could I have been influenced by the crystal doorknobs on every door in my childhood home? As a child, I thought very little of all those glistening doorknobs. Now, I wish I had every one of them.  And please tell me who does not love twinkle lights…all year long? They can make the dullest of rooms or gardens magical.

It’s funny how all of us have our “things” that make us happy and past memories that shape what we like and appreciate as adults. I sometimes wonder. of my online friends, what little everyday things fills their day with joy. What quirky things make you smile?

Dustjacket Attic, Call Me Cupcake, This Is Glamorous,

BHLDN Wedding Dress Perfection

For our wedding in 2008, my husband and I got married on a tropical island that was quite warm and incredibly humid. I intended, all along, to purchase two dresses for our wedding day; one for our ceremony and another for the reception. When I initially tried on my dream dress, I didn’t think it was heavy at all. At my second fitting, I  completely abandoned the thought of buying a second dress. Something I would soon regret..

As the evening of our wedding progressed, it still felt quite comfortable. However, as our reception approached its third hour, my beautiful wedding dress suddenly became an unfriendly armor of silk, tulle, and lace that I could not wait to take off!

If I could do it all again, I would have purchased another dress to change into like this dress from BHLDN. It is simply stunning. Lighter in weight yet equally beguiling and probably would not require a second change. Which is a good thing because traveling with a wedding dress is no fun.

When I first saw this dress, I studied every charming detail. The beautiful silk covered buttons, the slight hint of a trail and the layers of pleated satin and silk, gives this dress amazing fluidity. Sheer necklines are quite beguiling especially with gorgeous embroidery. Since I won’t be wearing this beauty {I could save it for our five-year vow renewal!} I hope that one of my lovely brides finds it just as beautiful and chooses it for her wedding day.

{via BHLDN}

What Lies Beneath…

The season of nice is over…now we can get back to the business of being naughty. Why wait for the “all things pink, fluffy, heart shaped and red” holiday to arrive to be someone’s nicely wrapped package. I say there is no time like the present to treat yourself to something nice and him to something naughty…

An Al Fresco Winter Table

A winter tablescape, adorned with simple details, creates a cozy al fresco setting at dusk. The warm glow of the lanterns and the glass votives hanging from the tree’s branches makes this cozy setting, romantic and magical. It is the perfect setting with nature as your guest of honor.

{via desde mi ventana & Interior Magasinet}

Petaled Prettiness!

I am so ready to wear a  pretty spring dress and walk around a city discovering all the new spring lines in the specialty boutiques. I absolutely love a big bag and this petaled pretty by Valentino is gorgeous! By the way the shoes aren’t too shabby either!

Tuesday Shoe Day – How Bazaar!

The dress is gorgeous but today is Tuesday and it’s all about the shoes. Those shoes are amazing in every way and deserving of a Tuesday Shoe Day post. Hmmm birthday is a few months away!

{via}

{paper love} Quilling by Sabeena Karnik

I was visiting the lovely blog, Hello Lucky,  and I saw the most amazing example of paper quilling. The artist, Sabeena Karnik,  is an illustrator, calligrapher, and, apparently, master paper sculptor. Her quilling is incerdibly detailed and makes you linger to study each piece. I am in awe of her patience to create such wonderful works of art. Ms. Karnik your work and you are truly beautiful. You can check out more of her work here.

{via}

{cake love} Silver Detail

Happy first Friday of the New Year everyone! Friday means cake love on the blog and this cake by Cakeface based out of Australia is gorgeous. Their cakes are delightfully unique and stunning. This three-tier silver detailed cake would be perfect for a black tie wedding. It was  painted with edible silver, and then adorned with sugar cachous. The client’s big red felt bloom adds a touch of glamour to an already beautifully crafted wedding cake.

{Via Cakeface}