eco-chic and fabulous — digital save the dates

a bride recently came to me in need of an eco-friendly save the date concept that could not only be sent out immediately, but that would still be chic, custom, and cleverly coordinated with the wedding invitations i was designing for her. a tall order.

the solution? a digital save the date that can be printed, emailed, or included as a banner on a wedding website. it saved the bride time and money that can now be focused on the printed invites and stationery, yet the look is still totally fabulous. we love it!

for the boys • bold bachelor party invitations

we girls are lucky. we get the ring, the dress, the all-around the focus of the wedding day as we saunter gorgeously down the aisle. so, what do the men get? the bachelor party, of course.

to that end, we don't think paper couture should stop at girl-centric wedding stationery. on the contrary, one of our favorite designs is this fab jaguar bachelor party invitation — wrapped in black suede and animal print, it's masculine, playful, and all about the boys. it even comes with a cigar for celebrating the groom-to-be at the end of the night.

who says girls should have all the fun?

violets, lilac and lavender • a perfectly plum wedding

i am a girl, and therefore at one point in my girlhood i was obsessed with the color purple. of course, as i've grown, so have my tastes. still, there is something elegant and dramatic about this royal color family that i just adore. especially when it comes to weddings.

muted lilacs, deep violets, jewel-toned plums. alone they can be ordinary, but mixed together these hues can create a spectacularly sophisticated palette. our multi-hued orb invitation was the inspiration for this board, which mixes lavender with deep eggplant and violet.

we loved the idea of mixing jewel tones & elements with soft whites and creams to create something tactile, unexpected and totally unique. from the stunning lavender heels to the hand-crafted crystal ring pillow, jewels are kept subtle.

beaded vases are the perfect pop of color against creamy white decor, like this reception with lilac paper lanterns. purple tinted water-filled square vases are softened by natural white pebbles. and speaking of natural, these orchid boutonnieres feature lavender sea urchins. so cool.

our favorite idea? for dessert, serve "milk and cookies" — violet macarons with violet and vanilla bean buttercream alongside a lavender honey cream cocktail. your guests will never forget it.

design & photos credits
first row — satin heels • glamour original / christine johnson photography; custom wedding invitations • paper olive; ring pillow • handmade by bride / studio tran photography; second row — beaded vases • country living; orchid boutonnieres • blooms design studio / brooke mayo photography via the knot; violet macarons • tartelette; third row — reception setting • kristen peelle photography via the knot; signature cocktail • h. joseph ehrmann of elixir; tinted water centerpieces • epicurious.com

paper olive nominated for best bridal blog by the wedding channel!

we are positively over the moon about our nomination for best bridal blog by the wedding channel! we certainly love what we do, and we are honored that our colleagues have recognized us.

we've been nominated in the best wedding vendor blog category, as well as best wedding blog. sincerely, considering that we are fans of many of our competitors, it is an honor to be listed among them. just take look at this fabulous list of nominees.

if you'd like to support us with your vote, you can do so as many times as you would like. truly, we are so thankful for the love and support of our fans and followers. without you, we wouldn't have much fun doing this. good luck to everyone!

a little love from little white book

we were delighted to discover a recent blog post about one of our favorite invitation designs, black tie, beautifully featured by the wonderful uk event planning company, little white book.

their style is all clean lines, contemporary flair, and chic color palettes. i am in love. have a look at their fabulous write up on us, and be sure to check them out for your own uk wedding. thanks so much for the love, little white book!

hotel del coronado • the ultimate beach wedding

i just returned from a glorious weekend in san diego, california, where i was privileged to stay, sun and dine at the hotel del coronado. honestly, there is no other hotel on earth to match it.

the travel channel rates the del as the number one wedding destination in america, and it's no wonder. i ultimately chose a tuscan escape for my wedding, but my second choice was a casually elegant beach wedding at the del. it's quintissentially californian, quintissentially fabulous.

the hotel beach is vast, pillowy and pure white, and the hotel architecture is a throwback to the east coast, with its nautical trimmings, wraparound porches and english woodwork.

the accommodations are updated with modern touches, but still have an old-world feel. again, it's no wonder, since the del is an historical landmark.

can't you just see your wedding here? the beach ceremony above takes my breath away. it's just so inviting, so lush. so romantic.

the hotel also has great restaurants, pools and shops, which means a perfect escape for you and your guests. there's a sizable price tag for a del wedding, yes, but the overall setting is priceless. i couldn't wait to blog about it, seriously.

in fact, below is our beachcomber invitation, which was inspired by hotel del coronado. nestled in a luxe white box to match the beaches, the invite was adorned with blue abaca ribbon and leather cord, and secured with a genuine sand dollar. it's the essence of beach wedding chic.

if you are interested in more information about your own wedding at the del, visit the del's celebration center for details. and be sure to invite me!

photo & design credits: hotel del photos courtesy of hotel del coronado. wedding ceremony photos by tim otto photography, featuring floral design by karen tran florals. sand dollar beach wedding invitation by paper olive.