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For Thanksgiving this year, some of our most loved friends are coming to stay with us.  We all used to live close to each other and spent every holiday, celebration and ordinary days together.  As life moves forward and things change, we’ve all moved to different parts of the country.  Getting together to share a meal again is going to feel like “home” again and I can hardly wait!  I’ve started thinking about how I am going to set the tables (there will be lots of us!)  And what I can do to make the celebration special without a big fuss.  With this crew, the food is going to take center stage, so I’m going to keep the centerpieces to a minimum; tall candles are a must!  As are simple white dishes.  I love this menu idea with the greenery.  We will have a few little girls who love to letter and this is the perfect way for them to add their touch to our gathering.

Traditionally, we display or share what we are thankful for.  This year, I’m going to string twine with herbs and branches and ask each guest to write one or two things they are thankful for to create a display wall.  How about you?  Any heartwarming plans for Thanksgiving?

table + centerpiece  |  place setting + soup  |  Thanksgiving leftover bag  |  menu  |  escort card display

You know, I really should have put together a tropical, ocean-inspired inspiration board today, given all of the island posts, giveaways (coming up!) and DIY’s (tomorrow!) that are all of that vein, but, I didn’t.  It’s been a rainy end-of-summer around here and I love it!  Rain and foggy horizons inspire me.  So, today, it’s all about the perfect rain inspired wedding with a beautiful, typographic invitation.

Invitation suite  |  Rainy window  |  Gown  |  Centerpiece  |  Floral installation

Whether you are planning a destination wedding, or, like me, with a growing wanderlust fever, Corina Nika of Cocorrina is a must follow on Pinterest and Instagram.  She lives in paradise.  Seriously.  Her home is Kefalonia Island, Greece and she floods her Instagram feed with insanely calming and inspiring island images.  The fact that she is passionate about photography definitely helps, as every image is just right.  As a designer, I always find loads of lettering inspiration on her Pinterest boards.  Do yourself a favor and go check her out!

Even though their roots are found in ancient Greek mythology, olive branches and their symbolism have become deeply planted into Western culture.  Olive branches symbolize peace and love and are widely used in wedding bouquets, garlands and backdrops.  With their abundance, you think we’d be tired of them, but just the opposite seems true.  We are more and more enamored with them and I’m happily riding the “I love olive leaves” train with everyone else.

Image credits:  mountain home  |  cake  |  bouquet by The Southern Table |  place setting  |  church pew garland by Santa Barbara Chic  |  bride

This has been the most unusual summer here.  While there  have been a string of hot, hot days, most of the mornings have been chilly.  As we head into the early moments of fall, the weather is amazing.  Perfect for me.  We’ve had more rain storms than normal (my thank you’s being shouted to the heavens) which have left me feeling more inspired than ever.  Today’s board is a toast to an inspiring week and a hope that we all savor the fleeting moments around us.

bouquet  |  driftwood + candles  |  almond pastries  |  bride + groom  |  save the date tags  |  table + centerpieces

*****

Would you believe that the big flowers in this board’s bouquet are made of paper?  I never would have guessed that!  Today’s board has a few unexpected and quirky details.  Just enough to show off your style and make your guests smile while still keeping the celebration sophisticated and refined.

peacock place setting  photographed by Clayton Austin via Ruffled Blog  |  bouquet by Juli Vaughn Designs via Ruffled Blog  | gown designer: Well Suited via Polka Dot Bride  |  ribbon backdrop  |  invitation by Sarah Monaghan Designs

Burlap and mason jars aren’t what come to my mind when I think of woodland weddings.  I prefer ferns, pine cones and evergreen backdrops instead.  The illustrated forest animals on the invitation set the stage for a charming, non-rustic forest wedding.

Bride photography by Simply Jessie via Wedding Chicks |  corsages & bouts via Brides Magazine  |  forest wedding ceremony photography by Michael Waite via Elizabeth Anne Designs   |  woodland wedding invitations by Frances Close via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Raw wood, stone and hanging foliage are really some of the most beautiful natural elements.  I combined these with shades of blue in today’s inspiration board.  I like the golden tones of the leaves as a substitute for the always popular peach and blush colors that have come to be so expected in weddings these days.

Image credits:  bouquet by Jessica Sloan via Once Wed |  groom’s suit photographed by Rebekah Westover via Elizabeth Anne Designs |  couple walking (source unknown)  |  flowers on water via photographie  |  rose gold stackable rings photographed by Rylee Hitchner, styled by Ginny Au  |  foraged garland & table photographed by Fiona Kelly styled by Always Andri via 100 Layer Cake

Hopefully you had a nice weekend.  We were able to escape the country and spend some time in the city.  I have a styled shoot scheduled for this coming Saturday with pretty much a celebrity wedding team.  Over the weekend, we met at the venue and ate the most incredible truffle fries that I’ve ever had.  I’m not one to ever eat more than a couple of fries, but I actually went back right before they closed and grabbed a to-go order!

This week’s inspiration board uses a gorgeous Cortana gown that we were thinking of for the shoot.  I love the earthy tones of this board taken up a notch by using gold instead of brown.  Keeping the paper simple with accents of gold is the perfect introduction to this celebration.

Cortana gown via Burnett’s Boards |  ruffle and gold leaf cake  |  grey & gold wedding invitation (unknown)  |  centerpiece by Sarah Winward via Snippet and Ink

I know it’s essentially July already, but the weather has been so nice in these parts that it feels more like spring.  This week’s board is feminine, fluttery and soft – perfect for a coastal or garden celebration.  The Maggie Austin cake is pretty much amazing.

Claire Pettibone blue dress  |  Bouquet by Merriment Events photographed by Katie Stoops via Southern Weddings |  Maggie Austin cake  |  Calligraphy Invitations by Signora e mare photographed by Laura Catherine Photography via Wedding Sparrow  |  Bridal up-do photo by Odalys Mendez

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!  I celebrated my birthday, so it was especially fun.  My kids were giving me handmade gifts all weekend long, which is always my favorite part.  To start the week off, I have a new inspiration board for you.  I love summer citrus colors, but I’m not really one that loves super-bright colors.  To soothe my calm palette, I chose to use citrus hues in small amounts – don’t you adore that cake by Lael Cakes!  Gorgeous!

Image credits clockwise from top:  Spring Bouquet by Snell Family Farm  photographed by Emily Delamater via Ruffled  |  Blush Bridesmaid dresses from ASOS photographed by Carmen and Ingo Photography  via Ruffled  |  Calligraphy by Carolyn Jane  photographed by KT Merry |  Wedding Cake by Lael Cakes photographed by Jen Huang Photography  via Style Me Pretty |  Curtain Backdrop photographed by Trent Bailey Photography via Style Me Pretty 

There are certain color palettes that I tend to shy away from.  Blue + peach is one of them.  Though most of us think of the 80’s as neon and bold, there was also a part of the 80’s that was full of blue + peach and mauve + green combinations.  While the streets and urban landscapes were dotted with intense colors and patterns, the average housewife was eyeball deep in soft pastels.  I spent hours with my aunts and cousins hot-glueing peach silk flowers onto bamboo fans tied with blue floral homemade ribbon.  Hours.

Lately I’ve been seeing dusty blue wedding and bridesmaid dresses popping up more and more.  And, while I always think they are beautiful, I have a hard time getting overly excited about the colors due to my over-saturated childhood.  However, I know the blues and ivory/peach tones can be pretty together and decided to just dive in and make something pretty with one of the gowns I saw the other day.  I think it worked pretty well.  How about you…any color combo’s that you just can’t do?  Any that you will always be a fan of?

Image credits clockwise from top left:  Bouquet by Joy Proctor photographed by KT Merry via Style Me Pretty  |   Ivory floral cake by The Scootabaker photographed by Rylee Hitchner via Grey Likes  |  Pink sapphire ring  |  Blue gown  |  Calligraphy invitation by Laura Lavender via Wedding Sparrow

As kids know, if you ask enough, the answer is “Yes!”  When I did my series on the creative process behind inspiration boards, I mentioned that boards can be built with inDesign, though I usually build mine in Photoshop.  A few of you asked how to go about building them in inDesign, so I replied via email with a mini-tutorial (it’s really quite easy.)  Since that post and those first few questions, I have been getting more and more emails asking how exactly to do it.  So, you asked; I’m answering for everyone.

First off, it’s important to understand how inDesign works.  Unlike Photoshop, where you open files and cut/paste items into your file, inDesign is like a spider that reaches into your files and pulls the images it’s told to find.  So any image you want in your board must first be copied onto your desktop.  I recommend creating a folder for all of your inspiration board images.  If you ever want to open an inDesign (ID) file, you’ll have to have the images that you’ve “placed” in the template in a place where the ID can still locate them.  Note: it’s okay to move the images from folder to folder, but you will need to re-link them when you open your file.

To begin, simply create a new document.  Since my blog is 600 pixels wide, I make it easy on myself and create my document 600 pixels wide.  The size can easily be changed after it’s open, so don’t fret over it if you make a mistake in the size.  If this happens to you, click on File > Document Set up and adjust the size in the pop-up box.  Easy!  Just remember that if you shrink your document, your image won’t shrink and will, most likely, be above your actual document.  All you need to do is to drag the image back down where you want it.  That might be a little ahead of things, but it seemed easier to explain it now.

Once your document is open, start adding placement boxes.  This is done using the rectangle tool that has the X through it.  Just click and drag the corner out to where you want it.  Again, the size of the boxes can always be adjusted, even after you have placed an image in it, so don’t worry if you are unsure of the ultimate size.

Points to note: leave white space between the images.  I like to leave about 2 pixels.  Anymore than that and the photos seem disconnected; less and they seem crowded.  I also prefer an odd number of boxes.  The rule of odd numbers applies in every art and design discipline.

Once you are finished, your document might look like this:

The next step (or you can do this step first, it really doesn’t matter) is to gather your images.  It’s no secret by now that I love the color green.  I also love an organic feel.  Thanks to Pinterest, I have an entire board full of pretty green pictures.  Just drag the image from Pinterest (after you’ve clicked and enlarged it) to your desktop and right on into the folder you’ve created for your boards.  If you do this now (make the folder) then you won’t have to go in and re-link any images later.  It’s a good idea to pull off more images than you intend to use because you may find that they don’t work as well in the board as you imagined they would.  Forcing images into a board is never a good idea.  It’s important for the board to look and feel good, two things that don’t come with force.

Once you have your images in your folder, place them into your document by selecting the outlined arrow tool and click in the box you want to place an image in then click “command” + “D.”  It really is that easy.  Continue placing (and replacing) all of the images into your board until you are happy with how it looks.

And last, but definitely not least, post the prettiness you created.  Be sure to share the links with you readers.  I try to include the maker, stylist and/or photographer and the blog that first featured the image you are posting.  Well, that’s it!  It is just that easy!  The hardest part is developing an eye for finding images that work well together.  Sometimes it just takes time to figure it out.  Looking at lots of boards from different designers always helps.  For more tips, Burnett’s Boards has some great ideas here.

If there is something you have a question on, or if I somehow make very little sense, just leave a comment – I promise to answer them right away.  And…thanks to my lovely friend, Brooke Schultz, for this gorgeous photo that inspired the entire board.

Image credits clockwise from top left: Bride photographed by Brooke Schultz via Style Me Pretty  |  White tulips by Tangled Stem  via 100 Layer Cake  |  Gown  |  Botanical prints by Hannah Lemholt Photography via Abundance |  Brick walkway through garden

After a long holiday weekend, I am excited to be back at it today.  I spent a bit of the weekend assembling and mailing some of the most beautiful wedding invitations for a lovely client.  Her wedding is going to be amazing – I can’t wait to see it!  This board was inspired by the photo of the formal garden.  We often think of garden weddings as laid back and casual.  I wanted to show how an elegant and classic a garden wedding can be, as well.  The bride (photo by Laura Gordon,) with her refined and purposeful style definitely sets the tone.

Image credits clockwise from top left: Watercolor invitation suite by Sideshow Press  photographed by Ashley Seawell via Southern Weddings |  Formal garden  |  Market globe lights via Chest |  Blackberry topped cake by Pippa Cakery  photographed by Erin Kate via Snippet and Ink  |  Place setting styled by Love This Day Events photographed by Laura Murray via Ruffled  |  Bride by Laura Gordon  Lady Mary Headband by Enchanted Atelier

It’s a beautiful morning to wake up to here.  Hopefully you were greeted with the same sort of day.  I have some great things lined up for you this week, including a beautiful giveaway from Toosha.  If you haven’t entered the $250 Minted giveaway yet, be sure to get on that today.

This board is another one created by special request.  This bride wanted to incorporate purple (aka Radiant Orchid) into her wedding without it dominating the color scheme.  Using varied shades adds depth and placing it against a more neutral palette allows it to be noticed without being in-your-face.  The gold touches add elegance that pairs nicely with such a royal color.  Adding a sort of playful element, the polka dots, on the invitation liner and table linen tie all of the pieces together in another way besides color which shows a thoughtful and purposefully planned day.

Image credits clockwise from top left:  bouquet by  lovely little details photographed by Jessica Burke via Style Me Pretty  |  Invitation suite by Pink Piggy Designs for Utah Bride Blog  |  Miss Dior blooming gown via This is Glamorous  |  Gold shoes by  Freya Rose photograhed by Brosnan Photographic via Grey Likes Weddings  |  Polka-dot table setting by Annena & Co. photographed by Sylvie Gil Photography via Style Me Pretty

The topic of barn weddings came up the other day.  Opinions seem to be very strong: love or hate.  While I’m not a fan of burlap, I do like barns.  Especially ones with gorgeous wood floors like these.  If you are going to have a hoe-down, this is the way to do it.  Simple, elegant bits of nature at its finest.

Monique Lhuillier Grace gown photographed by Jose Villa  |  herb place setting photo by Jose Villa  |  bouquet by Munster Rose, photography by Jeff Loves Jen via Wedding Chicks  |  reception setting by Flowerwild, photographed by Jose Villa  |  wood veneer invitation by Kari Dyas, with calligraphy by Hilary Williams via Style Me Pretty

I reluctantly admit that I don’t disdain purple (Radiant Orchid) as much now as I did a few months ago.  In small doses and combined with lots of textures, I think I actually might like it, even.  Today’s board is a study in textures. Sometimes brides think that their wedding invitation needs to have all of the colors of their wedding, but this is proof that they don’t.  The layers of fabric on the gown is a perfect compliment to the lush textures of the florals and letter pressed invitation.  Don’t you just love the canopy of trees on the invite?!

place setting photographed by Feather & Stone |  bouquet  |  gown by Angela Sum via Burnett’s Boards  |  invitation by Southern Fried Paper, photographed by Sarah Kate Photo |  velvet shoes photographed by Taylor Lord

Last week was spring break for my kids, which meant lots of laughing, exploring and time away from work.  We had such a fabulous time!  Because of the much needed break and the time I spent being with my kids, I’m feeling energized and excited to be back at it on this Monday morning.  How often does that happen?  To get things started off right, here is a lovely inspiration board using the ever popular nude tones as a base and adding the punches of coral and the subdued blue-grey to freshen it up a bit.

Image Credits clockwise from top:  flower topped cake by Mon Plaisir via Chic Vintage Brides  |  Champagne gown   |  bridesmaid dresses  |  bouquet by Saipua photographed by Kina Wicks  |  invitation suite via Style Me Pretty  |  groom via Ruffled  |  table setting via Snippet and Ink  by Yan Photo

Whenever I take a trip to the desert, I am always a bit amazed at the beauty found there.  The dusty, hot haze (even in March) that settles in, hovering  just above the horizon, giving way to the enormous expanse of sky above.  Bits of reds and oranges that show up in the most unexpected, yet very welcome, places.  I suppose I always come back with some sort of crush, which becomes an inspiration board.  Today is no different.

Image Credits: watercolor invitation by Crissie McDowell via Oh So Beautiful Paper |  groom via Green Wedding Shoes  |  desert landscape  | gown by Angela Sum via Burnett’s Boards  |  centerpiece by Tulipina  |  spice and cardamom cake via The Vanilla Bean Blog

Up next in my Creative Processes series on inspiration boards is the lovely, Sara, of Burnett’s Boards.  I met Sara almost a year ago, and have so enjoyed our friendship.  I hope that we can soon meet in person.  (I’m totally up for a trip to Hawaii.)  If you haven’t yet checked out the Ku’u Lei styled shoot that she collaborated on with Orchestrated styled shoots, it’s certainly something you should do.  I had the lucky opportunity to design the paper goods for the wedding portion.

From Sara:
I’ve always found great joy in creating inspiration boards. They’re like puzzles to me – a pretty slow process, but relaxing and they always have a beautiful outcome.

When starting an inspiration board it almost always comes from one image. A vast majority of the time it’s that single picture that drives the rest of the board, but other times (like with my zodiac series) I have a theme in mind that I’d like to end up with.

That ‘one picture’ can be anything and can be found anywhere, but for me it’s always been Pinterest. I know this is somewhat of a cop out but in my case it’s true.

“Hi, my name is Sara and I’m addicted to Pinterest.”

There is such endless creativity in the wedding industry and I’m constantly inspired by it and a lot of that creativity gets aggregated on Pinterest, so that’s where I usually begin.

After finding that ‘one picture’ (the one that makes you stop your scrolling, click, and sit in awe) there are several things I keep in mind while piecing together the rest of the puzzle:

1. Don’t double up

If I’ve already included a picture of a bride or an invitation suite, place setting, centerpiece etc, I don’t include a second, even if it ‘matches.’ Having two of what is essentially the same will confuse the eye

2. Leave space between images

Weddings are one of the greatest forms of mixed media art out there, and just like art in a gallery, each image needs breathing room to be appreciated for what it is, even while contributing to a greater whole.

3. Try not to mix photography styles

What I’m talking about with this one is the difference between film and digital photography. I try not to mix the two.  A crisp digital image is going to stand out too much next to a softer film one. The viewers’ eyes will focus on that single image instead of the whole inspiration board.

4. Don’t force it

I have a folder on my desktop called ‘half started’ that is overflowing with incomplete inspiration boards. If you can’t find the perfect image for that last blank spot, set it aside and don’t force something in there that doesn’t belong. Maybe the right image doesn’t exist yet.

Thank you, Sara, for a spot-on run down of inspiration board basics.  Read more about Sara’s process here.  For more tips, check out tips from Jessica and myself.

A full list of image credits can be found for each board:  Gold & Patina  |  Pastel & Blush  |  Black & White

Monday’s are not often a day that is celebrated, much less looked forward to.  Even so, I have been looking forward to today since last Wednesday!  I spent the weekend selling cards and playing in fresh flowers at a traveling market with a friend of mine.  It was loads of fun, but I am quite ready to be back in my studio working on wedding invitation designs.  To kick the week off, I have a new inspiration board for you.  Mint has long been a bride’s favorite wedding color.  This year, I’m seeing a bluer shade of mint, which I think is so pretty!

Invitation by Gemma Milly via Bridal Musings  |  Macaron Cake by Layers Cake |  Blue Mint Bridesmaids  |  Gold-flecked Soap Favore  |  Centerpiece by Honey of a Thousand Flowers  |  Beaded Up-do  |  Chateau via Grey Likes Weddings

Today I’m going to share a little bit about my feelings on inspiration boards.  We all know how important inspiration boards are, and chances are, you fall into one of two categories: like to build or like to find them.  From a stylists perspective, boards are critical to the success of any shoot.  A well-done board has the brilliant ability to corral all of the creative energies from a number of different people into one cohesive look, while still allowing each person to create freely.  I’m going to talk today specifically how a board helps in a styled shoot, and why the one heading up the shoot should make one. Remember this board from my contest a few months ago?  It turned into a seriously amazing shoot that I can’t wait to show you!

It’s important that an inspiration board have many different elements represented.  This helps to clarify and refine.  When I’m designing stationery for a shoot, I look first at the board as a whole.  What’s the overall mood it creates?  Then I look for little nuances that I can incorporate.  For example, do any of the images show hand lettering?  What is the shape of the bouquet?  The texture of the fabrics?  All those things spark ideas and help me form an idea, for example, of what sort of menu design would compliment the look of the table.  Sometimes I’ve designed an entire suite based on what would look good on the table.

No creative person likes or wants to copy another person’s work, so putting too many images of a single aspect makes it very difficult to be inspired, and instead has the opposite affect and stifles creativity.  So, for all of us visual people, this is a poor board for a wedding or styled shoot.  It shows yellow and flowers, but that’s it.  There’s a slight vintage element, yet no real direction. While the images themselves are gorgeous, this would be a tough board to get creative with.

To contrast, this is a great board by Breanna Rose.  It gives a mood, shows colors, patterns and textures.  It offers direction without dictating.

Another thing to note: boards don’t have to look a certain way.  Everyone has their own idea of what makes a board look good.  I get a little OCD with mine; I also have different layouts for weddings and shoots than I do for branding clients. In either case, I do have a few required elements in my boards, the first being that there must be white space between images.  Second, I make sure my margins (lines, white space) create a nice flow; that they don’t line up perfectly on one side and not at all on the other.  Another thing that I like to do in my boards is to not always show an entire image.  I often crop images to give an idea and to avoid a specific requirement.

To show you what I mean, I threw together this simple Instagram-esque board for a styled shoot I did with Sami Jo Photography and Flower Afternoon for my Shoestring Wedding series.  Click here to see the shoot and see how the board came to life.

As you begin your board, it’s often easiest to find one inspiration piece.  Take this photo, for instance.  I adore it.  Clean lines, soft textures, muted tones, minimal…those are the things I would look for in photos to complete a board from this image.  The first step is to take note of what appeals to you about the image, and then gather images that fit those criteria.

Wondering how this becomes inspiration for a wedding?  Have a look.  What do you think?  I think I could get married here.  Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything.

Read more in this series here, and stay tuned for the next installation from Sara of Burnett’s Boards.

Image credits clockwise from top: blush colored gown photo by Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty  |  sweaters   |  minimal table setting  |  bouquet via Sullivan Owen  |  tan suit via Mountainside Bride

Image credits for yellow example board: flower crown photo by Britt Chudleigh for Salt Lake Park City Bride and Groom Magazine  |  invitation via Southern Weddings  |  flower crown  |  bouquet via Style Unveiled  |  yellow bouts

As I delve into inspiration boards this month, and share the secrets of some of my favorite board builders, I thought we might also chat about where inspiration was found before the Internet, and perhaps, even, before magazines!   Though none of us were living prior to print, so it’s quite unlikely we will really know what it was like, but it will be fun to imagine.  (And, it is happily known that fine art has been used as inspiration forever, even after the printing of magazines.)

I’m currently working on a creative project with some amazing ladies using a painting by Monet as the inspiration.  It’s such an exciting project to be working on because these girls are really pushing me to think creatively!  So, I have had Monet on my brain for a couple of weeks now, which is why the first inspiration board of the month is inspired by Monet’s Water Lilies 2 painting.

When using a painting as inspiration for your wedding, what you are most often trying to pull from the painting is a mood.  The color scheme follows closely behind.  Remember it isn’t necessary to use all – or only – the colors found in the painting.  (Seriously, if you actually tried to use all of the colors in this particular painting, you’d end up with quite the rainbow!)  The colors that I focused on were the watery blues and greens with pops of copper, coral and red.  I love the gold shimmer in the back of the painting and thought the bride should be in a shimmery gold gown.

Have you ever seen Monet’s collection in real life?  I haven’t, but I have heard that it is absolutely stunning.

invitation by Megan Tidwell via Once Wed  |  gold Sarah Seven gown via The Dress Theory  |  fluttered table linens  |  centerpiece via Hatch Creative Studio  |  bridesmaid dresses (unknown)

With winter trying so hard to turn into spring, and spring seeming as though it is resisting with all its might, this time of year is tough to be patient with.  My solution?  Dreaming of pretty things and building a board to go with it.  I think less is better almost every time.  (I’m in the process of downsizing at home.  Sending half our closets to Goodwill and only keeping those things we love.)  The gorgeous bride is wearing a beautiful, and from all appearances, a comfortable dress with minimal makeup and jewelry.  In my mind, her necklace is stamped with a sweet word from someone she loves.  The soft tones of the paper and bouquet nod to winter, while the bright greens are shouting a Hallelujah style welcome to spring.  And I adore the textures of the ribbon and wood.

Bouquet by Tre Bella via Southern Weddings  |  Calligraphy by Feast Fine Art & Calligraphy via Style Me Pretty   |  Bride by Mandi Nelson Photography via Style Me Pretty  |  Place setting by LeFrufru via Elizabeth Anne Designs  |  Cake photo by Jen Huang

Inspiration boards have been around for as long as I’ve been in the wedding and design industry.  Some designers call them mood boards or color boards or branding boards.  No matter what your title du jour is for these pretty little things, they all serve a very important purpose: to convey the style and emotional element of a project, in this case, your wedding.

Years ago, before computers were in every home (it wasn’t that long ago.  Trust me…) when you wanted to get your creative juice flowing, you flipped through page after page of the hippest magazines, clipping and taping images into sketchbooks.  Lots of people still do this, although Pinterest has taken the art of image clipping to an entirely new level.

Image by Sarah Sherman Samuel via Design*Sponge

A great many wedding blogs post inspiration boards on a regular basis.  Admittedly, I am in awe that we all haven’t repeated each other somewhere.  I’ve seen the same image used on different boards, but have yet to see the same style + color + images from more than one maker.  It just goes to show how unique each individual is.  Something that I think is simply cool.

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be diving into inspiration boards, how to make your own and share my creative process, along with the creative process of other great board builders.

Lets begin with the why + some great resources for building.  The why seems rather self-explanatory, but in case one of you hasn’t ever heard of inspiration boards or who may be wondering what the big fuss is about them, I think it’s worth stating.  Inspiration boards are the best way to ensure that everyone working on your wedding is on the same page.  I can’t tell you how many times a bride has shared with me detail after detail of her perfect day, and when I finally get to see the link to her Pinterest board, it’s nothing like she described to me.  This is because words mean different things to different people.  Pictures deliver the same message to all.

Board via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Since I have been building boards for a long time, I have created a number of templates in InDesign and Photoshop that I use for my boards.  It is easy and allows me to search for images without worrying how I am going to fit them on my board.  However, most brides are looking for something quick and easy.  Nowadays, the easiest board is created on Pinterest.  To refine your vision, decide on 5-7 images that really sum up your wedding style and turn those into a small board to send out to all of the vendors involved in your celebration.  Remember that there are no rules.  And that you don’t have to have an image of every aspect.  An invitation designer is able to design something for you based on your vision as a whole.  Same with a florist and event planner.  Your board is a guide, not a set of hard & fast rules.

Board via Burnett’s Boards

Once you have your imaged picked out, it’s time to put them into a board.  The Inspiration Board is a straightforward site that allows you to create all kinds of boards after registering for an account.  They even have a video tutorial on how to use their site. The always hip Style Me Pretty has a board builder on their site with pre-made templates.  Ribbet is another website that allows you to upload your own photos into their templates.  More?  PicMonkey is another great resource for collage building, as is Fotor and Photovisi.

Your homework: Start a pin board, narrow it down to a handful of images, save them to your desktop.  Finally, load your images into any one of the sites I mentioned and build your perfect day!  Last thing is to email it to me (nikkol [at]peterlovesjane[dot]com) so I can share it during this series.

I’ll leave you with this festive and fabulous board in the Pantone Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid.  Cheers!

When a February Monday is full of sunshine and warmer temperatures, it’s a sign of a good week to come.  I’m so excited for all of the beautiful things I get to share with you this week.  I have been working non-stop this month prepping for a slew of styled shoots in March.  Remember this inspiration board that you folks voted on?  It’s becoming real next month (I know that I said it would happen in January, but life takes over and fun gets pushed to the side sometimes. March is good, though, right?!)  I saw this cascading bouquet on Swooned Magazine’s blog a while back and keep coming across it on my Pinterest board as of late.  This always means that an image will become the beginnings of an inspiration board.  I took the modern lines and classic styling and paired it with a timeless wedding gown, a cake with detailing to mimic the covered buttons running the length of the gown and a touch of glam on the gold edged envelopes.

Black & white gown image by Elizabeth Messina  |  Cascading floral chandelier  |  Floral topped cake  |  Gold edged envelopes  |  Lavender bridesmaid dresses  |  Cascading bouquet via Swooned Magazine Blog

Don’t you love that quote?!  Every time I see it pop up on Pinterest, I always have a concrete thought about how much I love it.  This board is one of my favorites.  There is so much breathing room, and the mood of each image is perfect.  Olive branches are one of the most lovely shades of green, and that vineyard shot is perfection.

Olive branch bouquet (looking for source) |  Lace gown  |  Olive branch crown photo by Jose Villa via Once Wed  |  Vineyard by Elisa Bricker via Wedding Sparrow

I’ve been working with quite a few couples who are planning on eloping, lately.  The whole notion of an elopement is so romantic to me, and has left me thinking about where I might possibly elope if I had it to do over.  Funny thing: my husband, after knowing me for about 3 weeks, asked me if I wanted to run off and get married.  I thought he was crazy – he didn’t know me at all – I guess he was just testing the waters to see what my reaction was.  We didn’t end up eloping, but I often think of how fun it would have been if we had.

A popular elopement area seems to be the Pacific Northwest.  Can’t say I blame anyone, it’s one of my favorite parts of the country, too.  An elopement is not fussed over, and includes only the essentials: love, a few flowers, a pretty place and a pretty announcement.  This invite by Hazel Wonderland is definitely a crowd favorite.

Wildflowers (source unknown)  |  Invitation by Hazel Wonderland  |  Girl in the woods by Hello Mr. Fox  |  Ring (source unknown)  |  Couple holding hands by Alison May Photography |  Flower crown photo by Alixann Loosle Photography

I’m not usually one for pastels, per se, however, when a sherbet colored  palette is grounded with stark black and given a modern spin, I am in love.  Did you happen to see Sarah Seven’s new collection debuting on Green Wedding Shoes yesterday?  The clean lines and simple design of the Sarah Seven gown in this board pairs well with the slim cut suit and thin, modern tie on the groom.  I was inspired by the lovely tulip bouquet in this post, too, and thought that they are the perfect flower for a modern blocked bouquet and asymmetrical centerpiece.  On a related note, I can’t wait for next week when the first post in my in-depth study of inspiration boards (how to put them together, what makes a good one along with tips from some of my favorite inspiration board makers) is posted.  I know you’ll love it!

Sarah Seven gown via Modernly Wed  |  Modern table numbers by Minted via Elizabeth Anne Designs  |  Color-blocked Tulip bouquet by Branco Prata via Belle & Chic  |  Multi-fabric Backdrop via Road Trip in Finland  |  Groom by Maharaj Photography via Style Me Pretty |  Centerpiece via Swooned Magazine

Peonies and swiss dots, can you really ever get enough of either of them?  I don’t think so.  When I first saw this cake, I was in love.  It is a delicate balance of simplicity and style, and the inspiration behind this board.  A 50’s style Peter Pan collar seemed like an obvious choice for the gown.  And, of course, this dashing couple would be married under a giant tree.  A simple table would be set where close friends and family would gather and toast the newlyweds until long after dark.

Image credits: Invitations by Julie Song Ink   |  Swiss dot cake photography by Divine Light Photography via Style Me Pretty  |  Groom’s suit by Rossi via Bridal Musings  |  Peter Pan and swiss dot dress by Crush Vintage  |  Simple place setting by Williamson County Weddings & Events via Wedding Chicks  |  Bridesmaid dresses via Trendy Bride  |  Ceremony location unknown via Pinterest

Hello.  I hope you had a great weekend.  I spent the weekend finalizing files for a print magazine that I started about 5 years ago.  The little area I live in has some seriously talented wedding folks, but nothing that let the town know who they were.  When I moved here a few years back, I decided to do my best to make a difference there, and I’m happy to say that I have.  I love hearing that brides find their ideas and vendors in my magazine.

Anyway, on to today’s post.  I work with a lot of small businesses and individuals with branding and logo design for their companies.  Whenever we are working on logos, I always design in black and white and present the first round of logos in black and white.  This way, my client can focus on the design and not be swayed by colors (we all know how powerful color can be.)  As I’ve been working on client work this past week, I wondered if i could put together a wedding inspiration board in black and white and focus more on the feeling and design behind the images rather than the color palette.  The only way to find out is to try, so I did.  What do you think?

I chose the image of the bride and the city because, to me, they both feel freeing.  The “love” signs, one a street sign and one etched in concrete, both take a warm and soft word and put it in a cold and harsh element.  Contrasting the cold metal and concrete is the sweet photo of the couple with the girl resting her hand on her guys arm.  These simple moments are, to me, what define love.  It’s never about the big things.  If I can sidetrack for a moment, my husband was on the road the past few days.  His band was playing at a big music education conference.  (Did I mention yet, that an album he played on has been nominated for a grammy?  I will be sitting front and center in the living room for the grammy’s this year!)  Anyway, he was talking with a colleague who is middle aged and had just broken up with her live-in boyfriend of 7 years.  She was devastated.  He said she wasn’t complaining, just honestly sad, and was telling the group at the table that her boyfriend constantly showered her with flowers and gifts, but the little things like having someone to share her day with and someone who is just there when life is tough – those are the things that she never got from him.  Those are the things her heart longed for.  And she is worried now that those are the things she will never find.

Back to the board.  I finished it up with some warmth, softness and a little bit of playful fun.   The next step?  Turning this design/feeling board into an inspiration board with color that still embodies the emotions.

Image credits clockwise from top:  Tropics and sun via Brandi Minter  |  Blurred legs by Michael Buley  |  Bride with veil  |  Love in concrete  |  Girl underneath flowers via Anna Tsantrizou  |  Couple via Republic of You  |  Love street sign   |  Downtown Seattle (where I would live, if I could.)

How about another inspiration board?  I came across this beautifully penned poem the other day and could not resist putting it into a board.  It’s a bit of an addiction, building inspiration boards, that is.   Maybe it’s more of a way to calm the ideas chasing around my head.  Once I put them into a board, they seem to rest.  Have you ever tried your hand at inspiration boards?  I have a little feature coming up next month all about the ins and outs of building a board, including some of the industry’s best sharing their creative secrets and how they begin working on boards.

Image credits clockwise from top:  Poem by Mary Shelley |  Groom source unknown  |  Bouquet by Sullivan Owen for BHLDN  |  Tile escort cards by Firefly events, photographed by Trent Bailey via Style Me Pretty  |  Ceremony couple by Carina Skrobecki   |  Staircase by Rebecca Lindon via Style Me Pretty  |  Cake by Oh! Darling via Wedding Chicks  |  Placesetting by Jose Villa via Everly True

Can spring be in the air in January?  Probably not.  It’s bitter cold here and I’m dreading the next snow storm.  Though I have some beautiful winter weddings to share with you, I am in the mood for a little light today and haven’t posted an inspiration board for a while.  Garden gates covered in flowers is pretty tough to beat, and wood veneer invites just happen to rank pretty high on my list of favorites.  I’m working on one right now that I can’t wait to finish.  The bride’s whole wedding has an overriding element of southern charm, which, by definition, means it is going to be gorgeous!

Image credits clockwise from top left:  Naked cake by Briar Rose Design via Le Magnigifique photographed by Daniel Cruz Photography  |  Gown via Design Seeds  |  Floral gate by Nico Cervantes via Wedding Chicks photographed by Patrick Moyer |  Countryside by Lexia Frank Photography via Style Me Pretty  |  Rose gold ring by Blanca Monros Gomez via Steven Alan  |  Screen printed wedding invitation by Kari Dyas with calligraphy by Hilary Williams via Style Me Pretty photographed by Jose Villa  |  Centerpiece by Foret via Swooned photographed by White Loft Studio

The Holiday season wouldn’t feel right without a long list of parties!  It’s the time of year that begs for us to open our homes and hearts to old friends and family.  It also begs to make new friends and resolve to be better ourselves.  Really, it’s one of the best times of the year.  Today’s board is inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement: Radiant Orchid.  I’ve created a party board that could be used for a wedding or holiday party.  Mixing analogous colors (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel) create such a pretty palette.  I love the small doses of red.  To make it festive, add some shine with metallics and you are ready to party!  Cheers!

Image credits:  Bridesmaid dresses by Little Miss Bush via Love My Dress  |  Striped Tie  |  Tree Cake Toppers  |  Centerpiece by Sara Winward, Honey of a Thousand Flowers  |  Drinks  |  Name cards via Oh So Beautiful Paper

A little treat for today:  I’m posting over on Coco and Mingo today while Jessica is on vacation to her home island of Hawaii.  Hop over and see the pretty inspiration board I designed, resulting in a rather unexpected color palette.

Enjoy your vacation, Jessica!

Welcome to Monday!  Hopefully your weekend was spent doing things you love or that you were able to cross off some long overdue items from your to-do list.  I finally finished staining the woodwork for our guest room.  I had a brilliant idea to move the guest room door  from one side of the room to the other and was so eager to get it done, that I immediately hired the contractor, who worked me right into his schedule and got his end of things done lightning fast.  I’ve been sitting on the trim and mouldings for about 3 weeks now.  Poor guy has had to hound me to get the wood finished so he could wrap up my project.

This week is full of good things in the studio.  First up are my magazines!  Beloved, my online magazine, is coming out right before Thanksgiving.  It’s full of pretty things that I can’t wait to share.  Bliss is the smaller, local printed magazine that I started in 2008, just a few months after moving to this little place and realized there wasn’t a single, high quality wedding publication that local industry folks could share their goods in.  This board is a snippet preview of the gorgeous cover shoot for Bliss, styled and photographed by Jessica’s Photography.  Dahlia Event Planning & Floral Design, The Graceful Baker and Serendipity Salon were all the contributing creatives helping to bring the vision to life.  Watch for the cover shot to be debuted over the next few days over on Peter Loves Jane’s Facebook page.

 Dress  |  Building  |  Shoes  |  Quote unknown  |  Cake  |  Bouquet  |  Tins (via Pinterest, source unknown)

Happy day-after-Halloween, folks!  This is the day that, though, I did limit the amount of candy my kids ate last night, they all sneak about 10 extra pieces and wake up with belly aches.  It means extra snuggles for me, so I can’t say I mind all that much.

I’ve been wanting to work on new layouts for my inspiration boards for quite some time now.  What do you think of the new look?  I quite like it.  I eluded to something fun happening today, a contest of sorts.  I have 3 different inspiration boards for you today and ask that you, please, vote on which one you’d like to see turned into a styled shoot.  The shoot will take place in January and I’ll post lots of amazing photos + a super cool behind the scenes video so you can see all of the amazingness in action.  Sounds fun, don’t you think?!   Follow me on Facebook for updates on which board is winning.  (I’ll announce the winner next Friday.)

(Oh, for those of you looking for the 52 weeks of free printables, I did it backwards this week and gave  Halloween printables on Monday and Tuesday)

 House  |  Pear Tart  |  Gown  |  Cheese  |  Place setting  |  Peony (via Pinterest, source unknown)  |  Invitation

And finally….

Leave a comment with which board is your favorite.  Share it on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  Just be sure to link back to this post, or tag Peter Loves Jane in your share.  I’ve heard talk of a prize for whomever shares the most. (@Peter Loves Jane on Facebook, @_peterlovesjane on Twitter, @nikkol_plj on Instagram)  Thanks for playing and let’s have some fun!!

Invitation via Style Me Pretty  |  Cake  |  Leather  |  Dress  |  Pods  |  Drinks  |  Magnolia Garland