It’s been awhile since I’ve featured the color blue in a wedding inspiration board, so I thought I would take the opportunity to do that today. Especially since blue wedding ideas is an all-time favorite post for us (and all of you) here at Heart Love Weddings.

Colors: Sage, Dove Blue, Deep Turquoise, Moss

To me, blue is a fabulous, neutral color. Why? I think it goes back to the thought process that we are surrounded by blue sky and green grass in nature, and when you add other pops of color like flowers and trees, it all just works together. You can’t argue with Mother Nature, right? And when I’m talking nature, I automatically think of rustic style weddings. It’s natural. In keeping with our theme, the bride we chose for our inspiration has beautiful real flowers tucked into her braid. So pretty! A fun rustic detail for escort cards are horseshoes that can be easily found at antique shops and fairs. They tie in real well with our cowgirl boots for the bride :) Those Anthropologie mugs are one of my favorite details used in weddings ever!! You can use the couple’s initials or spell out the word LOVE.  Rustic wedding invitations will help to set the vibe for your guests, and these are just so adorable with a little mason jar too! And how cool would it be to include an old truck (maybe a family heirloom even?) in your wedding decor. I’ve seen this more and more whether as a menu detail, drink station, dessert bar, or getaway car.

Are you feeling the blues today? Not the macaroni and cheese kind, and hopefully not the bad kind, just the pretty, rustic kind :)

xoxo

Row 1: Bride via Hair and Makeup by Steph, Horseshoe Escort Cards captured by Paper Antler via Style Me Pretty, Anthropologie Monogrammed Mugs styled by A Day Remembered captured by Mathieu Photography via Wed Over Heels

Row 2: Invitation by Wide Eyes Design - Etsy, Wedding Menu captured by Lisa Lefkowitz Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs, Bride’s Cowboy Boots captured by Andi Mans Photography via Southern Weddings

Downton Abbey, oh, how we love you! We only recently caught up on all the seasons of this delightfully addicting show. Given there was a wedding in one of the episodes, you know that eventually we would have to create a wedding inspiration board based on one of our most favorite series of all time.

Colors: Marigold, Baby Blue, Her Majesty’s Blue, Earl Grey

A beautiful 1920’s vintage wedding dress is a must for this Downton Abbey inspiration including lace and pearls. Vintage keys are perfect as wedding decor and can be used as sweet escort cards, a popular detail for vintage weddings today. Handmade soaps would make a lovely wedding favor and smell so sweet especially in rosewater or lavender. Pearls galore as a fashion accessory was a must in the 1920’s! Isn’t this necklace absolutely gorgeous? Vintage silverware tied with lace and charming plates will add extra panache for your Downton Abbey inspired wedding. And oh my gosh, is this ring box with handmade stitching just breathtaking? Yes, yes, it is.

Have you caught the Downton Abbey bug? If you have, can we just discuss the untimely exits of Lady Sybil and Matthew? I get all choked up just thinking about it…sniff, sniff…sigh. (Sob, that too.)

xoxo

P. S. Guess who’s ringtone is the Downton Abbey theme song? Oh, yeah, that happened. :)

Row 1: Wedding Dress by Claire Pettibone via NYC Wedding Photography, Keepsake Box by My House of Dreams - Etsy, Handmade Soaps via Come Home Soap

Row 2: Vintage Pearls via Dagars Catering, Table Setting via Secret Garden Cottage, Ring Box captured by Studio Austin Weddings via Martha Stewart Weddings

We know that most of us love pasta! Comfort food at its best, right? :) As I was making a batch of bow tie pasta one night, I kept looking at the swirling bow ties in the pot and thinking how cute they were. And then it hit me! They would make the most adorable “bow ties” for a wedding! So how about some adorable, painted and sparkly bow tie pasta escort cards? Yep, that’s what we did! They would be perfect for a handmade, summer, Southern, shabby chic wedding, and super easy to make too! Special thanks to Katherine Henry for taking such beautiful photos.

Our Supplies: Purchased at craft, hardware and office supply stores

• Box of (uncooked) bow tie pasta
• Spray paint (colors to match your wedding colors/theme)
• Newspaper
• Small paint brushes
• Small plastic plates
• Toothpicks
• Glue
• Glitter (colors to match your wedding colors/theme)
• Acrylic paints (colors to match your wedding colors/theme)
• Small alpha stickers
• Tags (we got these at Staples)

In a well ventilated area (outside is better), lay out your newspaper, and spray-paint your bow tie pasta. Surprisingly, certain colors may need a coat or two. Allow to dry thoroughly (in the sun is best).

Place a small drop of the acrylic paint onto a plastic plate. Take a toothpick, dip into the paint, and carefully place polka dots onto the painted bow tie pasta. Note: This is really, really fun and very, very addicting.

Too cute!

For the sparkly (read: glitter-bombed) bow tie pasta, place a small spot of glue onto a small plastic plate. Using your paintbrush, “paint” some glue on the plain, unpainted bow tie pasta. Then, holding your bow tie pasta over a plate or piece of paper, begin sprinkling your glitter (in the color of your choosing) over the pasta. Shake any excess glitter onto plate or paper. Check to see if you have enough coverage. If not, sprinkle some more. Who doesn’t love to sprinkle glitter? Caution: Don’t EVER touch your eyes while glittering. It’s very painful – been there, done that. Hope to never do it again.

After all your paint and glitter is dry, take your tags and place a small spot of glue on the tag. Adhere the little sparkly or painted bow tie.

TA-DA!!

Adorable, right? Oh, and did you notice we made a few plaid bow ties too? Yep, just take the toothpick and draw a few lines. Easy! Play, have fun, and go make some of these CUTE bow ties!

You can tie the little tags to a rustic board or chicken wire, and even cut the top part off the tag and slip it onto a fork as a place card. Cute and fun, right? :)

Which ones are your favorite? Polka dots, plaid, or sparkle? Have other ideas? We’d love to know!

Happy DIY-ing!

xoxo

Over the last few years, there has been a trend towards colored wedding dresses – pink, blush, yellow, blue, red, and yes, even black. Some brides say no way and others have said heck, yes!

Many of us have grown up with the white wedding dress tradition, but you know that hasn’t always been the case. Queen Victoria influenced the white wedding dress as a tradition in 1840, but before that many brides wore something that was their Sunday best and hanging in their closet, no matter the color. (Remember Little House on the Prairie?) During WWII many ladies wore a basic suit, or even a uniform, if applicable. When I was growing up, we didn’t even imagine anything but white.

Amanda K Photography via Style Me Pretty

Nowadays, color is definitely making a splash in the wedding world, but did you know that there is a little poem that might make you think a little more on whether you want color, and/or exactly which color you should consider. (Remember, there is a lot of superstition that surrounds love and weddings.)

What to Wear to Marry

Married in White, you have chosen right,

Married in Grey, you will go far away,

Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,

Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,

Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,

Married in Blue, you will always be true,

Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,

Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,

Married in Brown, you will live in the town,

Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.

Source: The Book of Love, K. C. Jones

Wow! Who came up with this list? Oh my goodness! I think my best bet, based on this list, would be white (duh!) and blue. And I would definitely avoid red at all costs. Yellow isn’t exactly a good thing either…

One of our favorite white (yes) wedding dresses of all time! Swoon!!

Luminaire Foto via Heart Love Weddings

I thought I’d have a little fun and make a few revisions to this poem, since the original sounds, well, a little depressing, and downright morbid. Just remember, my rhyming skills are a bit lacking. I just wanted to have some fun! :)

Ha! What do you think? Would you choose a different color other than white for your wedding dress? If you did, tell us what color you chose and why? Because inquiring minds do want to know…

xoxo

Oh, be still my heart! Purple and mint are absolutely breathtaking in our wedding inspiration board today! Move over emerald (Pantone color of the year), mint is our color of the year!

Colors: Minty Fresh, Bright Amethyst, Hyacinth, Celery

Let’s start with that absolutely gorgeous wedding bouquet that the bride is carrying. What a glorious combination of purples including one of my favorite springtime blooms, lilacs! Can you smell them yet? :) I love vintage bottles, and these purple and mint ones are pure perfection. So pretty. Cupcakes are truly one of my favorite desserts. Aren’t they everybody’s??! These purple and mint cupcakes couldn’t look yummier! The silver and purple mercury tumblr vases are my favorite part of this board though. And the little flower girl is so completely adorable in purple tulle! You just want to squeeze her, hug her, squish those cute cheeks, and have her walk down the aisle with you!! A super simple but oh-so-pretty floral centerpiece filled with purple carnations (another favorite of mine) and baby’s breath completes our look today.

Ta-da! Purple and mint, I love you so!

xoxo

Row 1: Bride captured by Eric Kelley Photography via Southern Weddings, Purple & Mint Bottles captured by Best Photography via Love and Lavender, Cupcakes via Glorious Treats

Row 2: Vases via Town & Country Home, Flower Girl via Frilly Fairy Tales - Etsy, Purple Carnations via 79 Ideas