Magnolia Rouge & the Rustic Issue

03 Friday May 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Events & Parties, Real Weddings, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

Tags

Andre from Brancoprata, Annabella Charles, Belathee, Boho Bridesmaids, Clementine Posy, Coralee and Alex, country, Danelle Bohane, Eat Boutique, Elizabeth Messina, events, flowers, Greta Kenyon, Haute Horticulture, Jen Huang, Jen Huang Workshops, Jennifer Tai, Kate Holland, Kelly Kaufman, Leaf & Honey, Logan Cole, Magnolia Rouge, Melanie Benson Floral, Melinda Ellis Cakes, nature, On My Hand, Ruby and Willow Design Studio, Ruche Bridal Shoot, rustic, shabby chic, Spanish Inspired Shoot, spring, Spring Bouquet, summer, Sutherland Kovac, Sweet Southern Charm, Verde + Indigo, wedding bouquet, weddings, White Loft Studio

I am in love with the reinvented Magnolia Rouge. If there is one place you want to go to for wedding inspiration, this is it. The magazine never ceases to disappoint. From beautiful photographs and unique events to loads of information, Kate Holland of Ruby and Willow Design Studio presents a skillfully designed quarterly every bride needs to see. I am a huge fan for sure.

I just looked over the spring issue and of course, I’m in awe of how nice it came out. I wanted to share my favorite elements to help inspire all you couples out there who are planning your special day. Even if you are not getting married or helping someone else plan theirs, there are tons of ideas and looks you can pull from these pages. Enjoy!

Ruche Bridal Shoot

Photographed by Elizabeth Messina

The Wedding of Olivia & Travis: Karaka, Aukland

Photographed by Coralee and Alex

Color Story: Verde + Indigo

Photographed by Greta Kenyon | Styling by Ruby & Willow | Flowers by Leaf & Honey

Spanish Inspired Shoot

Photography by Jen Huang | Flowers by Kelly Kaufman | Styling & Design by Jen Huang Workshops

The Wedding of Tara & Stephanie: Boonville, California

Photography by Belathee | Cake by Melinda Ellis Cakes

Entertain Shoot

Photography by White Loft Studio | Menu Creation & Recipe by Eat Boutique

Celebrate Shoot

Photography by Greta Kenyon | Styling & Concept by On My Hand

The Wedding of Laura and Mike: Kumeu, Aukland

Photography by Sutherland Kovac | Flowers by Leaf & Honey

Sweet Southern Charm Shoot

Photography by Annabella Charles | Floral Design by Haute Horticulture

Spring Bouquet Shoot

Photography by Annabella Charles

An Intimate Elopement

Photography by Jennifer Tai | Flowers by Melanie Benson Floral

The Wedding of Joana & James: Ponte de Lima, Portugal

Photography by Andre from Brancoprata

The Wedding of Jess & Rowan: Abbeville, Aukland

Photography by Danelle Bohane | Flowers by Leaf & Honey

Boho Bridesmaids

Photography by Logan Cole | Flowers by Clementine Posy

Monochrome Wedding Palettes

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Color Inspiration, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

antique, black, black and white, blue, ceremony, city chic, classy, color, country, decor, events, flowers, gray, monochrome, Monochrome Wedding Palettes, nautical, palettes, pastels, pink, reception, shabby chic, vintage, weddings, white

There are endless possibilities to colors and decor for your wedding. It’s all a matter of what you love and your taste profile. I think people mostly pick their color scheme first and move forward from there, which isn’t a bad way to go. I always say, choose your theme first and then everything should fall into place. But you can have so much fun with color, for sure.

What if you just chose one color for your special day? It may seem boring to some and maybe even strange to most, but having a monochrome palette could be very pretty if its done right. Now, just because you are using one color, that doesn’t mean your wedding will be an abundance of black or overwhelming amount of pink. You have to look beyond the color wheel and go deeper in the color you have chosen to use. By showcasing different tones and shades and playing with texture, you could have a gorgeous array of monochrome bliss.

Here are some great examples and inspiration of successful monochrome weddings. Hopefully, it will help broaden your understanding of this palette style and allow you to have fun with all the possibilities.

White
With an all white wedding, you can play with soft hues and pale tones. There are many variations of this color, you just need to explore the possibilities. This palette can be romantic, luxurious, country, city chic, vintage & antique, shabby chic and more, depending on your theme.

Photo Credit: Hairstyles and Fashion

Photo Credit: Kelly Prizel

Photo Credit: Momental Designs

Photo Credit: Belle the Magazine

Photo Credit: Four Seasons

Pink
An all pink wedding can be tricky but it can be done. Play with the lighter hues of this color, pastels work well together when they are in the same family. If you decide to go with a deeper or brighter shade of pink, just use it for pops here and there or it can overpower the event. You could make pink work for a modern wedding and also a more vintage style wedding.

Photo Credit: Event Decorator

Photo Credit: My Married

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo Credit: Weddings by Lily

Blue
The color blue works with a lot of theme and its easy to incorporate. There are so many pretty shades of it too. Whether its a nautical style wedding you are planning or a spring event, blue will definitely add class to the overall style.

Photo Credit: BrideoRama

Photo Credit: Celebrations at Home

Photo Credit: Karen Tran Florals

Photo Credit: Bold by Design

Green
Using green is super easy if you are having a nature inspired event. Your venue, if outside, can act as the main decor and all you need to incorporate are elements within your theme and palette. I would stray from using Crayola tones and stick with more natural moss, lime and pastels.

Photo Credit: Wedding Flowers

Photo Credit: JL Designs

Photo Credit: Burnett’s Boards

Photo Credit: Marriage Reception Ideas

Black
Having an all black wedding is a tough one. There have to be white elements thrown in here and there to break up the dark color or your guests will feel like they are at a night club or goth party! If that is what you are going for, than feel free, but I think most wedding decor is not going in that direction. Use various shades of black, gray tones could be really nice and classic. If done right, it can all look very chic and grand.

Photo Credit: Gudu Ngiseng

Photo Credit: Weddingomania

Photo Credit: Plectrumbanjo

Photo Credit: Brides

Gray
This color can be used so many ways. Gray is a beautiful hue that can easily represent many styles. It’s classic and vintage at the same time.

Photo Credit: The Sweetest Occasion

Photo Credit: Scarlet Petal

Photo Credit: Somersault Vintage

Photo Credit: Preston Bailey

Spring Wedding Decor

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

antique, bouquet, bridal party, bride, bride bouquet, bronze, burlap, centerpieces, decor, earth friendly, earthy, eco-concsious, farm inspired, flowers, groom, nature, pastels, rustic, shabby chic, spring, spring wedding decor, table decor, venue, vintage, wedding planning, weddings

Having a spring wedding allows for nature to play an important role in the decor. Since you can have the event outside, its easy to let your surroundings act as decor. And why shouldn’t it? When you have such a beautiful backdrop, don’t fight it with lots of other elements, embrace it and welcome it into your special day.

Photo Credit: Once Wed

Photo Credit: Dragonsmark

The colors of spring range from pastels and creams to vibrant hues that can easily be taken from nature. Just look around and let all the fresh blooms and plants be your guide. Your theme should only accent these colors, not bury them. Lets say you are having a rustic event, showcase shabby chic style in texture and antique items that will truly allow the Earth’s beauty to shine. Even if your event may be more farm inspired, using darker textures such as tree bark, burlap and bronze will get the point across successfully.

Photo Credit: Green Wedding Shoes

Remember, its all in the details. What people will remember most are the personal touches you brought to the event. Not so much the amount of money you spent or overwhelming amount of flowers, etc. The more meaningful the event is, the more people will appreciate your special day. Always keep in mind that most weddings look the same. If you want your day to be really memorable, showcase the things you and your partner love and spread your love for each other throughout every detail. That is what will keep people talking years after the wedding.

Photo Credit: Best Home Decorators

Photo Credit: Brides

Photo Credit: Wedding Chicks

Photo Credit: Ruffled

Centerpieces on the tables should reflect both the season and your theme as well. Keeping it simple is always my motto. You can have various items displayed but its all in how you arrange them. Although everyone feels differently about the table decor, I personally suggest you keep the height low, so your guests can get into conversation during the event. I also feel the table shouldn’t be bombarded with lots of flowers or other various items, as it may feel crowded and uncomfortable for the people sitting there. Not to mention, wasteful. Most just get thrown out after the event.

Photo Credit: Dream Wedding Receptions

Photo Credit: Oh Lovely Day

Photo Credit: Interior Design

Photo Credit: Oh Lovely Day

Photo Credit: The Frosted Petticoat

Photo Credit: The Daily Meal

Photo Credit: Brides

The bride’s bouquet should accent her outfit without overwhelming her. She should be the focus. You can get very creative when it comes to flowers. I just suggest you keep them local and in season, for a few reasons. First, its more affordable and eco-concsious. And second, it simply makes more sense to use elements that are cohesive with the season of your event. Having a spring wedding with winter-esque decor might seem very out of place!

Photo Credit: Wedding Light Events

Photo Credit: Ruffled

Photo Credit: One Wed

Bedroom Makeover on a Budget

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Sarah Atkinson, The Home

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bedroom, beds, budget, curtains, design, designing, furniture, interior design, painting, redecorate, redesign, shabby chic, wood

It is that time of the year when everyone needs to be tightening the purse strings as Christmas well and truly hits and January is spent recuperating from it. But that shouldn’t mean you have to put off doing something you want or need to do. The word ‘budget’ doesn’t necessarily mean having to sacrifice quality and style, it’s all about knowing where to look for things and how to create an expensive look for a fraction of the designer price tag!

Don’t redecorate, work with what you’ve got
Redecorating can be the most expensive part of making over a room, but what many people don’t realize is, you don’t have to change the wallpaper or paint to change how it look. If you have neutral colors and patterns on the walls then you are in luck, as you can change the style of the room to just about anything you like. If you went for something a bit more bold and bright at the time of decorating, don’t start stripping the walls yet! Look into what the current trends are. Maybe when you first decorated it was in fashion to have every single item in the room in one color, but now the trend may be to mix and match, the more colors the better!

Photo Credit: Digs Digs

Give your furniture new life
Kitting a bedroom out with a new bed, wardrobes, chest of draws, cabinets and more is another expensive part of redecorating a room. And there is probably nothing wrong with the furniture you have, you just got bored of it and fancy a change. So change it!

If its wood you can do so much with it. Sand it down and give it a new varnish or paint it a completely new color altogether. Shabby chic is very on trend at the moment, so painting it white and then distressing the paint would look great and isn’t hard to do at home. The best part is, it looks expensive and has a designer look. For other surfaces you could get some stencils and spray some fab new designs or purchase some appliqués (readymade designs) and stick them on to the boring old furniture surfaces.

Photo Credit: Painted Cottages

Photo Credit: Thrifty Inspirations

For beds, divans allow you to change the headboard easily so you could get a new one or jazz up your old tired looking one. For complete metal or wood bed frames don’t despair! You can bring new life to those by weaving colorful fabrics such as ribbon or scarves through their framework and hang decorations on their ends.

Photo Credit: Signature Homes

Curtains and bedding on a budget
Bedding and curtains are one of the main focal points of a bedroom and if done right they can make a room look modern with very little damage to your wallet. Satin is the material of luxury so it makes sense to assume satin bedding and curtains would be expensive? Not at all. You can find quality satin bedding and curtains for a fraction of the designer price tag. Don’t fancy sleeping in satin bedding or even want to change your bed covers at all? You don’t have to. You could simply purchase a satin bedspread which will cover the entire bed when you aren’t sleeping in it and throw on some bed cushions to make your bed look like it is straight out of a showroom.

Photo Credit: Furniture 4 World

There is so much more you can do with your bedroom no matter what your budget, it just takes a little creativity and imagination and you could have a whole new bedroom whenever you like!

Written by Sarah Atkinson