For those of you who do not follow me on Twitter – I thought I would go ahead and post the three images that I posted to  Twitter the day of Jordan and Jeremy’s wedding on June 26, 2010.  Keep in mind all of these photos were taken by my Blackberry – so they are not the finest in photography!  Those will come shortly from Ralph Alswang!

As you can see – this was a very bright and summery wedding!  I can’t wait to show you all the pink, yellow and green yummy details.

We created our signature photobooth for Jordan with her colors and style from her wedding.  Above is Jen Franz from Documentary Associates who took the photos at the photobooth during the reception! I can’t wait to show some of the funniest photos I have ever seen from a photobooth and the funnest props!

Now this photo is really terrible and does not show the true essence of this decor piece at the reception.  We brought in actual school lockers that we painted in their wedding colors!  We still have the lockers in stock as we just could not part from them!  Inside the lockers were her stuff, his stuff and then in the yellow locker – their stuff.

There is so much more to show – so stay tuned for the professional photos – which will be so much better than these!  But I just could not wait to show these to you!

We are doing a fantastic and new type of bridal show that I can’t wait to showcase here after the event!

While you wait for those photos – thought you might like to see some of my favorite Etsy designers in the wake of Valentine’s Day! Yes – love is still aflutter!

I totally dig this ring!  So cute!

And this ridiculously cute recyled bottle cap necklace pendant!

Beautifully packaged organic pink grapefruit soap!

Simply divine earrings – not just because they are vintage – but because they are the exact colors from my wedding day! I want them!

And this adorable retro skirt!  I know 4 people that could rock this skirt out!

As always, click on the photos to buy from Etsy!

Cheers!

~Katie Martin

1st – Lake Champlain Chocolates – One of the 1st I ever tried!  Loved them – They have some great packaging for favors as well!

One of my friends gave me the Vosges Organic Dominican Republic (DR) Chocolate Bar!  Obviously I dig it because my husband is from the DR, but also because his family owns a cacao farm!  I have actual tasted a cacao while in it’s fruit/nut form direct from the tree in both the DR and Nicaragua (amazing and not what you expect really).  The process of making chocolate is a strange one (not sure how they figured it out), but one that I am so grateful I learned about.  Vosges has some of the greatest chocolates in the world and they have quite a green mission statement – which you can read here.

Possibly the most ridiculously rich and most expensive natural organic chocolates that I have ever tasted are from Richart. It is a French company that says nothing about being organic or going green on their website.  However, I have visited 2 of their stores and have just never wanted to leave.  The idea of going to a chocolate store and comparing it to an experience of being at a museum is probably preposterous to you.  However – to me, when I eat chocolate – it is an experience.  I can taste the nuances in each type of chocolate I eat.  Richart is probably the most fascinating chocolate I have ever tasted in my life.  These are the chocolates that you give on Valentine’s Day!

Happy Indulging!

~Katie Martin

As promised, here are more photos from the real wedding that was featured in the most recent Washingtonian magazine.  We are super excited about Kate and Mark’s wedding and I will do a follow-up post sometime in the new year about their engagement photos which were even cuter!  Another eco-friendly wedding shot by Tom Van Veen & Ashlee Wilcox of Documentary Associates with our floral designs!  Such a fun wedding!

Kate had her chivari chairs custom painted with the help of her sister Arney who used to work for one of the best wedding caterers in the DC area.  We were so happy that Kate let us have free reign over making her floral designs to match their vintage and whimsical style wedding.  The lapel flowers were finished with hemp twine and the bride’s dress was by Lela Rose (manufactured and designed in New York City!)

The programs were beribboned with various shades of raffia and ribbon by the bride and her sister.

Every single detail of this wedding was well thought out – down to the vintage typewriter as the “guest book”.

Congratulations Kate & Mark!!

(and to our wonderful friend Arney too – sister of the bride!)

~Katie Martin

]]> http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/announcements/washingtonian-real-wedding-feature/feed/ 3 http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/a-few-thoughts-on-love/ http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/a-few-thoughts-on-love/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:17:16 +0000 Katie Martin http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/?p=1576

I love it when my clients come in and they are bursting with love.  Clients like that are the reason why I love what I do. Weddings should be all about love. Yes, wedding planning can get hectic, but don’t let it get it in the way of love.

I want to throw around a few fun ideas I found centered around the word love on Etsy.  Most of these items are great for wedding decor. However, anything you see here can be used in your home.

Think about your purchasing for your wedding.  Find ways to reuse these items.  Home decor from your wedding will bring back memories of the day you got married on a daily basis.

Weddings tend to be a feast for the eyes for your guests.  Why not keep that amazing decor for your 1st home together?

Congratulations on your engagement!

Happy Planning,

]]> http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/a-few-thoughts-on-love/feed/ 0 http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/1516/ http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/wedding-planning/1516/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:31 +0000 Katie Martin http://www.eleganceandsimplicity.com/blog/?p=1516 One look at those fabulous shoes and you’ll know what inspired this collage. Sophisticated, chic and a little theatrical, they are the perfect foil for a black and white color palette with dramatic details.

Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Invitation: Wedding Paper Divas
Bouquet: Martha Stewart
Cookies: Epicurious
Gown: Ulla Maija
Hair: Pip Pip and All That
Parasol image: Green Wedding Shoes
Place setting: Style Me Pretty

Invitation via Papeterie
Ice cream cones via Elegance & Simplicity (by Design Cuisine)
Candy bar via Big Wedding Tiny Budget
Shoes via Rodney Bailey
Bridesmaids via Our Labor of Love
Gown: “Dandelion” Collen Quen Couture
Cake Weddings Fresh
Bouquet:  District Weddings

Links:
(clockwise from upper left)

Place setting via Loving

shoes: via Casando Ideias

candlelight: via Elizabeth Ann Designs

Cake: via Southern Weddings

Gown: via Douglas Hannant

Pomander Escort Cards: Via Elizabeth Ann Designs

Bouquet: Via Project Wedding

Invitation: via Wedding Paper Divas

Can you tell me a little about how your company is going “green”?

1.  We have made a conscious decision to use ‘green’ packaging for all of our products.  The cellophane we use is a new biodegradeable (sp?) material that won’t harm the environment.  The ’stems’ we use are also harmless to the environment.

No part of our process is environmentally unsafe.

What do you think is your most popular item?

2.  In terms of our most popular item–that’s a tough one since we cater to a wide range of tastes.  Luscious Leaves and Precious Petals are popular for wedding/event favors.  Gerber Daisies and Tulips are popular bouquet choices.  Since we can create our products in custom-blended colors, our clients first choose their colors than grapple with flower styles!  We do a lot of mixed bouquets in seasonal color palettes.

Which is your favorite?

3.  My favorite item is probably the Luscious Leaves because of the wide range of uses for them.  We sell to chefs who use them as dessert garnishes.  We put them on picks for cocktail garnishes and of course, favor and gift boxes.

We had one client who was having her wedding reception at a botanical garden and her colors were French Blue and Milk Chocolate.  We created Luscious Leaves in those colors and they were used as favors to complement the flower theme.

Anything new going on?

4.  The newest aspect of the products we offer is the New Metallics.  Gold & Silver were so popular that I started experimenting with a wide range of colors and the result has been incredibly popular.  They’re so new (and we’ve been making so many) that I don’t even have a photo on the website yet.

and

Dean & DeLuca just started carrying LolliChocs and LolliChocs Metallics in two of their stores.  This is a very exciting time for Art By Chocolate as you might imagine!

Click on the photo above to learn more!  Adorable!

This week is our Summer Orchard Inspiration Board

Invitation: White Thread
Fruit Escort Card: Joy de Vivre
Dress: Atelier Aimee
Cake: Project Wedding
Bouquet: Grant Riley Weddings
Tablescape: Style Me Pretty

Happy Planning!

~Katie Martin