Meet Maud and Patrick, a stylish and chic couple from Luxembourg who came all the way to New York City to exchange vows. We love this city celebration, not only for the fact that it was planned by our friends Mon Plus Beau Jour and captured by B-Freed Weddings, but also because it illustrates the amazing backdrop that is Central Park in the fall. The little American details are creative and adorable, and just wait until you see Maud’s bridal bolero- complete with fur lined collar and cuffs.. it’s to die for.
Midnight Skin Wedding Inspiration
The dramatic and colourful Romona Keveza gowns we saw last week planted the seed for this inspiration board. Since then I’ve been drawn back to the deep midnight shade we saw in several of her dresses. I’ve had a craving to put a wedding palette together with a bit of drama and this has manifested in a combination of the magnetic metallic blue below and a pale skintone hue that compliments without overpowering. It’s all about drama in the details with this look- statement jewelry, dark nails and smoky eyes. Slightly unfinished material such as rustling raw silk goes well here, or messy flowing tulle for a theatrical flair. There’s a rustic but glamorous accent with accessories like the silver-coated tree limb candelabra below, while vintage flatware brings a decadent feel. Strikingly expressive and elegant, the fluency of this look is driven by the contrast of the powerful intensity in the midnight shade and the delicacy of the warm skin hues.
Image credits: Stella Cake: Charm City Cakes via Style Unveiled | Statement Necklace: Red-I by Chelsea | Tulle Dress: Maria Lluisa Rabell | Shoes: Confetti Day Dreams | Flatware: | Tree Candelabra: West Elm | Vintage Rose Quartz Ring: Old Hollywood | Blue Eyes & Nails: Obaz | Midnight Gown: Romona Keveza
Destination Wedding Favors
A lot of people are on the fence about wedding favors. It’s all very well if you can afford it but for those on a budget, understandably they’re often the first thing to be cut. At the same time though, they can be a great way to bring in a bit of your personality to the day, and they can be a fun part of the planning. Plus, if you’re having a destination wedding, you want to help out your guests in every way you can and a practical wedding favor can be your chance to do just that. Lindsay’s post on Destination Wedding Guests has some really helpful advice on what to put in your guests’ Welcome Packs, and I think it’s a great idea to combine your destination wedding favors with your welcome packs- that is, have practical wedding favors! So we’ll start off with our favourites, the practical options.
Marianne Wilson Photography via Style Me Pretty
✈ Practical Wedding Favors
So, keep in mind your guests are traveling to another country. What are the differences in climate? What are the little things that may have slipped their minds? A few on-the-day favor options that might help them out are flip flops, parasols, fans, sun hats, visors, umbrellas or shawls. Items that can be personalised (but don’t have to be!) such as lip balms, handkerchiefs or matchboxes could come in handy either. Favors which could be included in the welcome pack are: citronella candles to keep bugs away, local recipe cards, wine stoppers, bottle openers, bookmarks, postcards, luggage tags, tote bags, wedding date magnets. These could be or given out on the wedding day either of course if you want to make sure people know they are wedding favors! Don’t go with anything larger than a coffee mug if you can help it, or they may get left behind. Er, by accident of course…
✈ Local Produce
Basically there are three types of local favors that can be given- edible goods, souvenirs or music. It’s great to keep money in the local economy and guests will want to be reminded of the place you all travelled to. Local foodstuff specialities such as jam, honey, chocolates, wine, olive oil or any eatables that the area does well will always be appreciated. Think non-perishables of course! Other items such as local soaps or souvenirs like little replicas of a landmark in the area. Above all, think practical rather than actual-such as local flower or herb seed packets rather than actual plants like tree saplings or anything in pots. The third option of local music could be a CD or downloadable album by a local band, a really nice touch would be if they’re your wedding band too. If you’re having your own music playing from an iPod, I love the idea of having the wedding playlist made into a CD for guests- what a great way to remember the day!
Martha Stewart Weddings | La Vie Photography via Style Me Pretty
✈ Wedding Favor Table
No matter how much time you spend selecting and possibly hand making your wedding favors, there is a chance that more than a few will be left behind. This isn’t because your guests don’t care, but they will forget them by accident (and let me just say, I have been guilty of this!). I’ve even come across people who didn’t know they were allowed to take them home. One way to mitigate this is, instead of placing them at the guests’ place setting, to have a favor table in a prominent place which guests can access if they choose, along with a sign directing people to take them home.
Mango Studios via Ruffled
✈ Charitable Wedding Favors
Finally, another option for your destination wedding favors is to donate to a local charity. After all, it’s good to give something back to the place you chose for your special day. Guests will appreciate your social responsibility- also, it’s one less thing for them to pack for the way back!
We’d love to hear your ideas for destination wedding favors. We’ll be back this afternoon with some ‘midnight skin’ colour inspiration so be sure to check back in!
Cinco de Mayo Wedding Ideas
We are a few days late with this post and it’s completely my fault! Sorry gals! I was running for Cry Ireland in a small parish called Monagea in County Limerick on Saturday and it was just a fantastic event. The amount of support for this charity was absolutely mind blowing and the crowds of cyclists, walkers and runners that turned up to rally around two families and show their support was really amazing, and it was quite emotional. The sun was high in the sky as locals got together to make the sandwiches and butter the barmbrack while thousands of people gathered before the start line and if I’m being honest, I took a complete break from Fly Away Bride as I was reminded that some things are just more important. So far, 53K has been raised and the donation cards are still being counted and there is a small community that are feeling very proud and humbled by the whole experience. Now that the dust has settled, I’ve returned to work realising I’d completely forgotten to put the finishing touches on this post and into yesterday’s schedule! Whoops!
Inspired by the festivities that come with May 5th, this Cinco de Mayo wedding inspiration board is a symphony of reds, fuschia pinks and blood oranges. You can go two ways with this theme. The first is that real outdoor fiesta with colourful lights, streams and streams of papel picado bunting, party platters of traditional Mexican food made for sharing, an all out mariachi band and tequila shot station. Great fun and a winner in our eyes but perhaps a little more suited to a party at home rather than a wedding celebration. The second, we have tried to showcase through this inspiration board. Bright and bold, we’ve tried to keep this fun theme wedding worthy and pretty and so we have sacrificed some of the obvious and loud details and instead incorporated them subtly throughout. Focus on strong colours and keep the papel picado to a motif for invitations and smaller details. Introduce succulents such as cacti, but keep the flowers big and the main feature or arrangements. Instead of shots, have well styled tequila cocktail stations in pretty glasses and for music, forgo the big mariachi band for a duet or trio.
So what do you think, is a Cinco de Mayo wedding for you?
Image credits; Bouquet by Jose Villa | Fan by Aaron Delesie | Red Dress by Photographer Unknown via A Life of Beauty and Grace |Ruby Ring from Scarlett Jewelery | Chili Boutonniere via Martha Stewart Weddings | Ombre Cake by Le Blossoms |Colouful Drink Bottles via Inspired by This |Paloma Cocktail by Sweet Thing | Papel picado invitations by I Do It Yourself | Flower centrepiece by Jose Villa | Mexican Donkey by Aaron Delesie
So Happy Together ✈ Wedding Anniversary Session
We have something a little different but very special for you today because it’s the 10th wedding anniversary session of Katie and Paul, a lovely couple from Kentucky who decided to mark this milestone and fulfill a dream of a lifetime by coming to Ireland. Ashely Park in Nenagh, County Tipperary hosted Katie, a photographer and Paul, a fireman and their trip was made all the more special when Lisa O’Dywer joined them to take some wedding anniversary pictures. The results are just too pretty for words so we will let Lisa do the talking.
Ashley Park is a stunning 18th century country house set on a massive 76 acres of gardens and woodlands. It also overlooks Lough Ourna, so there’s no doubt that Katie and Paul found peace and tranquility here, and considering they left their two children at home for the first time ever, it was very much deserved.
The estate is also maintained as a bird sanctuary which is why this little fellow looks pretty content!
The couple and Lisa spent a lot of time walking around the house and gardens, ducking in and out between spells of showers. They also wandered into the town to see the castle there and to take a few snaps. Both Katie and Paul have ancestral connections to Ireland, like you couldn’t tell from her gorgeous red hair!
Ah the wellies, a staple piece in every Irish girl’s wardrobe!
I love the green shutter windows!
Wedding anniversary sessions and honeymoon shoots are starting to become quite popular and we think it’s a lovely way to document these special occasions, especially if you are abroad. We all have those photographs of one person standing, smiling in front of some famous landmark while the other half takes the actual picture. In fact, on our last holiday, Mike and I came home with one picture that we were both in together and of course we were both burned to a crisp, so we will not be putting it up on a wall.. ever. Of course, we think it’s lovely to document these special milestones anyway. Would you consider hiring a professional photographer on your next wedding anniversary or holiday?
Thanks once again to Lisa O’Dywer who will sadly be leaving Ireland during the summer to move back to the States. Good news for our friends in the US but sad for us and we will miss her terribly!
FAB Guide ✈ Letterpress Invitations
Two weeks ago, we looked at wedding stationery suites – what you need, don’t need and everything in between. We promised to follow on from that post with a few guides on different invitation printing options and styles so that you have a better understanding of what’s on offer and what it might set you back. We thought we would start with our favourite, letterpress invitations.
Letterpress printing dates back to the 1400s and still enjoys the limelight when it comes to luxury wedding stationary today. The remarkable thing is that in today’s world of modern technology, the process of creating beautiful letterpress wedding invitations remains the same as it was in the beginning.
Claire Pettibone 2014 New York Bridal Week
Hope you are all looking forward to the long weekend ladies! I’m “running” 10K tomorrow for charity and I’m am absolutely frightened! I have been neglecting my friend Gym for the past 12 months so it’s not going to be pleasant. How’s and ever – tomorrow is most certainly not about me and hundreds will be walking and running the roads of Limerick and Kerry for CRY, a charity close to my heart. To round off what has been a really lovely week, we are sharing one last look from New York Bridal Market and well we figured, let’s end on a high. The Claire Pettibone 2014 Decoupage collection, is simply exquisite in every way and this designer never fails to impress. Silk charmeuse, guipure and chantilly lace, floral appliqués, cameo motifs and silk ribbons were only a handful of the details so beautifully crafted into the designs and I, once again, am in love.
Claire Pettibone has really got the back detailing down, it’s so effortlessly romantic and I for one am a big fan of the cap sleeve detailing! I would have loved to have seen this collection down the runway. Have a great weekend! x
Friday’s FAB 5 ✈ Oscar de la Renta 2014
I’m one happy camper this Friday. I’m in New Orleans for the first time, have Lindsay’s bar recommendations all lined up, tickets for Jazz Fest and am meeting some good friends, so I’m pretty content. I’m betting lots back home are pretty happy too seeing as it’s a long weekend! This past FAB week took in some diverse bridal fashion, including controversial numbers from Reem Acra, flowing creations from Christos and colourful Romona Keveza gowns. We saw a destination wedding in the lavender-covered hills of Italy with fabulous scenery and an Italian castle venue, a summer inspiration board in gorgeous peach, blush and green, and we also found another country in Europe that makes it easy to legally have a destination wedding there- magical Malta.
There were some amazing weddings out there this week!
✈ Perfection in coral and mint
✈ Sunshine in the Umbrian hills
✈ Gorgeousness on a Kentucky farm
Friday Fashion ✈ Oscar de la Renta 2014
A LOT of sweetheart necklines, organza sequin embroidery, Chantilly lace, pleated silk trumpet and ruffle skirts… This collection has fussiness to spare but thankfully there are several beautifully austere gowns to counteract this. The touch of colour in the first two dresses came with tulle wraps and embellished full skirts, while the third gown below is my personal favorite- I just love both the shape of this creation and its satin slightly structured finish.
Summer Wedding Lovers ✈ Colour Inspiration
Whoop! It is officially a day past summer and I am absolutely thrilled, scared and overwhelmed. As I sit here in Costa Coffee, on Baker Street in London, my mind is overflowing with plans for the months ahead. I’m officially leaving my full time job at the end of June, launching another wedding business in the next few weeks and have two destination weddings to look forward to. The first is in France in August where my beautiful friend Amanda will marry the lovely William. The second is in North Carolina in September for the big FAB wedding – Amy is marrying my handsome brother. Yep. Did I mention she is to be my sister in law?! Maybe not. She’s been the best thing to a biological sister for the past 14 years anyway so it was marry her off to one of my siblings or have my parents adopt her, and so we are thrilled to have the day out. In the middle of it all, Mike and I are planning a 6 month trip around the world while we have no real ties such as houses or babies at home. The plan is to leave after Amanda’s wedding, fly to South America for 6 weeks and then head up to Atlanta for a whole week of merriment with the family at a mountain estate in NC. So, basically – my life is just so great right now and I’m cautiously looking around ready to fight off anyone and anything who is considering spoiling it for me. I’m in a good mood, the weather is fabulous today and I felt it was time to share this summer wedding inspiration board with you. Greens in the sun always serve as a perfect backdrop and paired with peach and blush hues, well it all comes together quite lovely. If you are planning a summer wedding and want to recreate this look, it’s all about inspiration from the outdoors. Set the scene outside or bring it in. Use plenty of flowers and foliage and even incorporate some actual peach fruits into the mix. Enjoy the rest of this sunny day ladies!
Image Credits; Landon Jacob | Jose Villa | Odalys Mendez | Laura Godron | Leo Patrone | Elizabeth Messina for Little Borrowed Dress | Flickr | Isa Photography and Simply Peachy | Rylee Hitchner and Joy Thigpen
First Look on the Ponts des Arts ✈ Fun Paris Wedding
Our real wedding today is set in the most romantic city, filled with fun details and a couple who are seriously in love, with some mouthwatering sweet stuff at the end.. so basically, it pretty much has it all? Audrey and Julien traveled to the city of love for their wedding with friends and family. They decided to have their first look on the Ponts des Arts bridge (the one with all the little padlocks) before their ceremony, and Annie from MADfotos was there to capture the moments:
Wish You Were Here…
