{La Lovely Things - Vintage Inspired Group Portraits}

Pulling together a wedding guest list is no fun.  Hunting down RSVP-stragglers is no fun.  However, getting married while surrounded by those who are nearest and dearest to you and your partner is great fun.  Whether you have 25 or 250 guests, when you set foot into that house of worship, banquet hall, living room, field, etc., you can literally feel the love and joy of your guests permeate the air.  It is both an amazing and overwhelming experience.  These are the people that you have chosen to surround you as you commit yourself to your partner.  These are the people that make up your community - they'll be the ones to share your joy at future happy occasions and they'll be the ones to prop you up during difficult times.  Now, wouldn't you like to have something special to commemorate that community of yours?

Photo from http://www.wornthrough.com/

That's why we're totally loving the entire wedding group shot.  Couples of long ago had it right.  Take a look around the internets for vintage wedding photos - you will find that the post-ceremony group shot was very popular in the late 1800's through the 1950s/60s.  Then, for some reason (maybe because weddings started becoming more about the "what" instead of the "who"??!!), these types of shots fell out of favor. 

Photo from http://fashion-era.com

Luckily, there are couples & photographers resurrecting the lost art of the banquet photo.  Sure it will require a little additional coordination and cooperation, but don't most worthwhile things?

Here are a few modern day all-inclusive group shots that we're loving.

Photo by Zlatko Batistich

Post Ceremony is a great time to snap one of these photos - your guests will already be in one centralized location and likely in rows.

Photo by Terry Gruber, a master of this form.

How timeless is this group portrait?  By the way, it's definitely a good idea to provide chairs for the older generation. 

Panoramic photo by Eye Shot Photos.

A great way to make sure you get the whole group is to go panoramic like the above photo.

Photo by Kim Grubb. 

Or perhaps your venue has a staircase?  Isn't it lovely how this celebration is practically spilling out of the photograph?

Photo by Eric Limon Photography

 Maybe your photographer will be the one to climb the stairs.  It's such a joy to see these folks having such a good time!  We totally want to be at that party!

Whether artful or whimsical, the banquet group photo is surely a lovely momento that you'll cherish for years to come.

Cheers!
LaVERE

{La Inspiration - To Wed or Not to Wed}

To wed or not to wed...that is the question. And of course, our answer is yes, yes, a thousand times, yes! Is English renaissance your favorite era? Incorporate some of the long gone golden age in English history into your wedding day by carefully selecting subtle details that will show your fondness for this time period, and why not, even some Shakespearean poetry. 

Calligraphy is a Greek word meaning "beautiful writing." If your budget allows it, use it on your invitations.  Otherwise, using a printed font that looks 'old English' will also have a similar effect, especially if you use a wax seal.

Invitations by Etsy seller Shine Wedding Invitations

Monogram Wax Seal Stamp from LetterSeals.com

When selecting a venue, a place resembling neo-classical architecture can transport you to a different century and an Italian garden would not only add to the ambience, but make for great pictures.

In NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has several amazing venues that would lend themselves nicely to a Shakespearean inspired event.

Vélez Blanco Patio

The Cloisters Museum and Gardens

Carroll and Milton Petrie European Sculpture Court

Whether you select a DJ or a band to party the night away, a string quartet during your cocktail hour can provide a great selection of classical music to add to the romantic atmosphere.

 

 

Although 16th century fashion might not be your bridal party’s cup of tea, tap into their inner Juliet by including a small bag of fragrant potpourri, when you give them a pretty hand-made necklace as a token memento of your day.

Potpourri from Rose Petal Weddings 

 Romeo & Juliet necklace -bronze pendant, silver chain and pearls  
by Etsy seller Dawana from Peaces of Indigo

Give your wedding programs an old fashioned look and incorporate one of your favorite Shakespeare sonnets.  

 Letterpress Notecards from Etsy seller Lettuce Press.

And finally, to tie it all in, the bride should look the part. For inspiration, take a cue from a custom made gown designed in a timeless style by Sandi Spika Borchetta for Taylor Swift for the video for her song Love Story.  The closely fitted bodice and an up do with gentle curls add to the romantic, young and fresh look.

 

There are so many fabulous ways to incorporate The Bard and his works into your wedding.  Other ideas include naming tables after your favorite characters or plays, having a feather quill to use for signing the guestbook, and you could even hire an actor and a minstrel to roam around the event reciting poetry. 

Cheers!

LaVERE

{La Inspiration - Cherry Blossoms}

Spring is beginning to peek out from behind the gray of winter here.  I noticed that the Cherry Blossom tree has in my yard has started budding.  Delicate, fragile, beautiful and resilient, cherry blossoms are often noted as a metaphor for life and love.  What could be more perfect for an early spring wedding?  Let's go shopping!

Set the tone with a gorgeous invitation, like this die cut one from Etsy seller EMTsweeetieWeddings.

Oh my, how stunning!  This wedding gown with an obi sash by Culture Bridal.

A fabulous dress deserves killer shoes... I think these Louboutins do the trick!

With your bridesmaids in varying shades of pink by Anna Elyse, they'll echo the delicate petals of the trees.

Lovely clay florals by DK Designs Hawaii.

Say your vows under a dramatic Huppah like this one seen at The Knot, photo by Brett Matthews. 

 

Your guests will know that they're at the right venue with a window cling like this one from Bliss Wedding Market.  

Your guests can pick up their place cards at a table like this pretty one designed by Opalia Flowers. 

Then your guests can put their good wishes for you on your guest book tree, courtesy Martha Stewart. 

While sipping on Haru's Cherry Blossom Cocktail (recipe below). 

And after you've danced your last dance, send your guests home with sweet memories of your day.  Cookies by Meli and Angi.

Cheers!
LaVERE

*Cherry Blossom Cocktail (from Haru Japanese restaurants)

2 oz Svedka Cherry Vodka

1.5 oz Nigori Sake

0.5 oz Cranberry Juice

0.5 oz Peach Puree

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and edible flower. Enjoy!

{La Inspiration - Liz Taylor}

We were very saddened by the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, an amazing talent and a true beauty.  She loved weddings almost as much as we do - she was married 8 times in her life! 

Any number of her films or real-life weddings could serve as an inspiration...  

One of our favorite Elizabeth Taylor films is 1958's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  Here's a quick inspiration board based upon a few images from that film.  

(We don't, however, hope that anyone's marriage is as tumultuous as Brick & Maggie's). 

Details: 

We started off with this dress by Pink Purr Studio, which is a replica of the white dress worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the film.  The peach tones in this floral arrangement by Pixie Floral echo the colors of the bedroom and the centerpiece mimics the scrolls on the brass bed which many key scenes in the film take place around.  (Seen in the next image).  In keeping with the golden scrolls image, we've found a gorgeous cake by Sweet Memories Canada and invitations  by Etsy seller InvitedInk. Lighting such as that done by Full Circle Lighting echoes the lanterns used to decorate for Big Daddy's birthday party.  And finally, since Cat on a Hot Tin Roof did start out as a play, this  playbill program found at Urban Grey would surely make a great program.  

Cheers!
LaVERE

{La Inspiration - Irish Countryside}

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re going on a virtual shopping spree.  We’ll skip the shamrocks and shenanigans and stick with a subtle nod to the Irish countryside… Some recent finds that have us swooning:

Birch Bark Ring “pillow” and Flower Girl Basket by Etsy Seller NHWoodscreations.

A hand cut birch tree with your initials would look amazing on your place card or guest book table, and this print would make darling invitations…  Both by Etsy Seller OurHumbleABoweD.  

Moss covered letters for your site doors?  Check.  By Etsy Seller SpottedLeopard.

The name says it all – “Queen of the Woods” headpiece by Etsy Seller WHICHGOOSE 

JCrew’s dune gown – so ethereal. 

A romantic bouquet.  From Posy Flowers via Brides.com

Moss in Milkglass centerpieces by Etsy Seller floresdelsol.  I’d stack these up to varying heights on vintage books of Irish poetry… 

And maybe you can get your groom to take a page out of John Wayne’s style file –

A classic “pops” hat a la The Quiet Man (rent it if you haven’t seen it) would be fab. 

Slainte! (That's Irish for Cheers!)
LaVERE

{La Lovely Things - Love from Above}

Happy Valentine's Day.  In lieu of an inspiration board filled with chocolate, flowers and hearts, we're going to keep it simple...and just send you some love from above.   

Photo copyright Aerial Photography For You.

What a great way to photograph your wedding guests!  Sure it would take some coordination, but hey, that's why you have a wedding planner, right??

Cheers!
LaVERE

{La Inspiration - Year of the Rabbit}

Happy Chinese New Year!  Of course, we’re feeling inspired by the holiday and all of the festivities. 

Disclaimer: If you’re looking for traditional Chinese inspiration, you might want to visit our friend Google.  We’re going for a modern, atypical style. 

I know red & gold are the traditional colors for a Chinese wedding, but we’re going for avant-garde here, remember? 

This Ginger Jar from Pearl River Mart really caught my eye and inspired everything else…  

Invitations by Etsy Seller ImbueYouIDo have a modern sentiment with a hint of inspiration from the past. 

The gorgeous traditional Cheongsam dress is taken up a notch in this vintage version. 

 Kimera Design of Brooklyn hand makes fabulous gowns.  We love their mandarin collar style for both bride and bridesmaids.  (Obviously, we would probably go with a red or turquoise bridesmaid dress, or white – if the bride wears red). 

This bracelet by Etsy seller 1485jewelry, would make a great gift for bridesmaids.

A red and white cake like this one from Bay Shore Cakes would be just lovely.  We’d go with red velvet, natch!

And you know what we’d love to see on top of the wedding cake?

These guys!  Foo Dogs/Fu Dogs/Imperial Guardian Lions can be found many places online we found the above at Byrd Shop. 

And what do you know, in doing my virtual shopping, I came across the below - 

Oprah’s got it right with this table setting. And guess what – the ginger jar and plates are the very same Pearl River Mart items mentioned above.  Double happiness!

For some additional ambiance, we would sprinkle around a few of these gorgeous lanterns and Lotus Candle Holders from Luna Bazaar.

Again, I know we’re bucking tradition here – but why not use traditional red envelopes to hold your favors?  We’d go with small cards explaining that you have made a donation to your charity of choice in the guest’s name.  It’s kind of like giving money in the envelope…

That’s all for now…  hope the year of the rabbit is good to you!

(from here.)

干杯 Gānbēi! (That’s Cheers in Mandarin – or at least that’s what the internet tells us…)
LaVERE