vintage cakes by superfine bakery

next to the stationery and fashion, my favorite part of any wedding is the cake. i've featured many different cakeries on my blog over the years, but a consistent fave has always been superfine bakery in studio city california.

what i love most about superfine's style — set by owner and master baker andrea boudewijn — is the eclectic whimsy. always elegant, and always delicious, there is a grand simplicity and playfulness about all of andrea's designs, like this set of vintage cakes for a wedding aboard the queen mary.

andrea understands what it is to have fun with your design choices, and so she attracts brides who appreciate this too. always a pleasure to see what's baking over at superfine!

romance and carolina herrera • spring 2012

while my personal tastes in wedding gowns probably fall more towards the sleek, chic and simple these days, there is nothing that can change my mind quite like a classic carolina herrera gown.

her designs are so uniquely feminine, lush and romantic that i can't help but fall in love. this is my favorite from the 2012 collection. outstanding.

photo credit: brides.com

lovely lotus wedding invitations • sami & aaron

we are so honored to have been a part of sami and arron's recent wedding at the terranea resort in palos verdes, spectacularly photographed by lin & jirsa. you should spend a moment reviewing their blog feature on this exceptional wedding — ideal for any couple planning to work with color.

speaking of color, when sami first came to me asking for elegant wedding invitations that successfully featured bold colors — like plum, silver and teal — i was immediately excited. when she then revealed that her wedding theme was designed around the ever-elegant lotus flower, i was even more delighted.

we will follow up with further photos of the final product, featuring a magnificent dupioni silk envelope and lush thermography. check back for details. :)

and congrats, sami and aaron!

peacock wedding invitations • a beautiful thing

one of my favorite all-time visions is the sight of a fully completed order of beautiful wedding invitations, just before they are packed up to be delivered to a happy bride. this is one of my recent favorites. :)

spotlight on brilliance • shopstyle.com

have you ever wished it were possible to simultaneously shop at all of your favorite stores for all possible styles of red heels, black dresses or some other fabulous piece? or better yet, find out if another store might have the item that sold out at your local bloomingdales?

guess what? it's possible — and i actually cannot believe i haven't blogged about it before.

shopstyle.com is a brilliant website that not only gives you a window into the best online stores — nordstrom, shopbop, bluefly and more — but let's you save favorite items, track when they go on sale, and even schedule email reminders. ridiculously cool, right?

i love sharing the fun stuff. just don't blame me for the effect on your wallet.

couture wedding studios captures pure joy

sometimes i come across something so refreshing, so fun, and so original that i feel the need to share it for that reason alone. this is one of those times.

wouldn't you have loved to have been a guest at this wedding? such pure joy and delight, captured beautifully by couture wedding studios. in love.

paper olive featured again in weddings in houston magazine

one of our favorite magazines, weddings in houston, has once again featured paper olive in one of their glorious style articles — this time, on the beauty and importance of a couple's first impression: the wedding invitation.

we are delighted to be counted among such fabulous design experts, and as always, think the cover is simply spectacular!

inspiration • indian weddings

happily, one of my long-time favorite style trends is becoming quite popular with 2011 brides: the indian-themed wedding.

whether you are marrying in new dehli, met in bombay, or just want to add some exotic colorful flair to your day, these ideas are sure to spark a little bit of bollywood glam.

design and photo credits

first row — {wedding cake} design cakes via flickr • {ceremony site} olivia leigh photography

via elizabeth anne designs • {bridal makeup} wedding come true

second row — {henna} luxury hindu weddings • {bouquets} heather parker photography • {shell ring pillows} the knot

third row — {groom on horse} serendipity photography • {bride & groom with petals} slr lounge

style faves • monique lhuillier 2011

if anyone knows how to ring in a new year, it's monique lhuillier. with a signature style that always seems to reinvent itself from year to year, lhuillier's gowns are continually fresh, showstopping, and always one of my favorite things about any new season.

from an exquisite spring collection that absolutely tops itself from dress to dress, these are my two favorites in the bunch — jules, a super chic short dress for the fashionably flirty, and giada, a breathtaking embroidered stunner that i've never quite seen anything like before. just in love.