Elegance & Simplicity - Engaged & Green Blog » Inspiration Boards

Fresh Retro

Katie Martin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:00:37 +0000

It’s been so rainy here in Washington, DC that, when we saw this sweet retro number from Stephanie James couture, it was a matter of course that a bright, sassy inspiration collage was in our future! Balloons, colored tulle, lemon drops and a cheeky garter – what’s not to love?

Credits clockwise from upper left:

Invitation: Etsy seller Ello There

Garter: Julianne Smith

Cake: image via Meg Baisden Photography

Bouquet: Martha Stewart Weddings

Cocktail napkins: via Once Wed

Lemonade jar: Casando Ideias

Lemondrops: via Once Wed

Balloons: via Once Wed

Dress: Stephanie James Couture

A Little Harvest Inspiration

Katie Martin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:01:12 +0000

One look at this inspiration board and you’ll know what inspired us. That gorgeous Carolina Herrera gown, front and center. The stunning wheat design on the bodice makes visions of decadent chocolate cake, pomegranate, persimmon and wheat dance through our heads!

Credits clockwise from upper left:

Shoes: Style Me Pretty

Bouquet: Martha Stewart Weddings

Wheat Boutonniere: InStyle Weddings

Chocolate Cake: Martha Stewart Weddings

Place setting: 100 Layer Cake

Invitations: Bespoke Press

Pomegranate Escort Cards: Martha Stewart Weddings

Gown: Carolina Herrera via Kiss the Groom

Black & White Chic Inspiration Board

Katie Martin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:31 +0000

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

Design Inspiration – Start with Your Bedroom!

Katie Martin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:39:56 +0000

If you are having a hard time trying to figure out what your wedding design & style will be? Then this post is for you!

Getting inspiration should always start with your personal style. So many couples come into my office with no clue as to where to start and always leave with a clearer picture. It is really simple…start in your bedroom or what you want your bedroom to look like.

Why your bedroom style? This is where you probably spend a lot of time! Most people love to decorate their bedrooms in their own personal style and then leave the rest of their home to more “mainstream’ decorating. (I said most people – not all!)

Are you a shabby chic or simply elegant kinda couple?

(above 2 photos from Atlanta Bartlett’s amazing website!)

Are you a Feng Shui “clean line” kinda couple?

Are you a practical kinda couple?

Or are you an artsy kinda a couple?

I am betting you will find certain elements in your bedroom that would translate well into your wedding design.

Do you tend to pick the same colors? Same designs? Same textures? Chances are those things will resonate with your wedding style.

This is not my room – but I might just make it mine as my wedding had similar style.

I used the same bright greens and blues with hints of browns with circles, polka dots, patterned papers and lanterns. We even had some daisies thrown in with our wedding in the Dominican Republic.

Decorating your wedding should be like decorating your new home together. Makes it much easier to dream! You might even be able to reuse some of your decor for your wedding into your home. This is a great green way to plan your wedding and nesting all at the same time!

Click on any of the photos above to find more inspiration from the websites I pulled them from.

Let me know what inspires you by leaving a comment or emailing me at katie {at} eleganceandsimplicity {dot} com

Happy Planning!

~Katie Martin

Sweet & Sassy Inspiration!

Katie Martin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:01:16 +0000

We love food – especially dessert! Is it so strange to plan a wedding around ice cream cones? We couldn’t resist the idea of a sweet and sassy wedding to bring you back to the days of the Good Humor truck!

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

Dramatic Asian Inspiration

Katie Martin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:01:51 +0000

Claire Pettibone’s newest Asian-inspired collection, Cherry Blossoms, made us want to create a whimsical and dramatic Asian wedding. Details like tea lights, lion dancers, cherry blossoms, and rice cake wedding favors are in perfect harmony with a striking traditional Chinese red!

Credits (upper left clockwise)
Cake: WeddingBeePro
Gown: Claire Pettibone
Chinese Lion Dancers: Elegance & Simplicity, Inc. (photo by Love Life Images)
Lanterns: Elegance & Simplicity, Inc.
Bouquet: Project Wedding
Tea Lights: Etsy (seller Prudence Octavia)
Kokeshi Cake Topper: Etsy seller Temple7e
Rice cake favors: Chinese Weddings by The Knot
Invitations: Etsy

Elegant Aubergine

Katie Martin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:01:53 +0000

Bright fall leaves, crisp air, and the change of seasons inspired us to create a rich aubergine collage with modern elements infused with classic styling.

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

Summer Orchard Inspiration

Katie Martin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:27:09 +0000

We have done a few inspiration boards in the past – but now it will be a weekly feature on our blog! Yay! Stay tuned every Thursday!

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

Playing With Colors

Katie Martin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:02:34 +0000

I have to be honest, I love playing with fabric and color! I often find that my weddings are an introduction to the style that my couples will have as they enter the designing stage of their new home together! What better way to design your wedding than around your new home! One of my favorite stops is the Pantone website. However – there is a much better website, that is easier to navigate! Colourlovers!

This website does a great job of letting you pick out a palette that would work well for your lifestyle and your weddings! I love what I saw today on the website:

Happy Coloring!

~Katie Martin

We Adore Sarah Magid!

Katie Martin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:15:11 +0000

I am looking forward to meeting Sarah Magid. Her work is amazing as an eco-friendly wedding cake designer in New York City! Great ideas for super cute cakes and confections! Plus she has a fantastic book!

Get more ideas from her book!

Quatrefoil – A Beautiful Design for Your Wedding!

Katie Martin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:11:12 +0000

Quatrefoil has to be one of the most underused design elements. The design is timeless and elegant – like most brides want their wedding to be! I have scoured the internet to find some of the cutest quatrefoil elements to showcase them here. I want my house covered in this design (in blues and greens)! A wedding would look so beautiful with the quatrefoil element scattered throughout the day! Here are few of my favorite quatrefoil items I have seen in magazines and online lately! To die for!!!

Your stationery provider should be able to find a design for you that matches your style and colors. If not – hire a local graphic design artist to help! Have some original artwork for your wedding! Or – if you like the jewelry here – you can have them made! Best place for custom design jewelry is Dominion Jewelers in McLean, VA. Tell Carol or Marsha we sent you and ask for a 10% discount! We can design invitations with the quatrefoil design for you as well! Make an appointment today!

Happy Planning!

~Katie Martin